Protest meeting demanding withdrawal of case filed against editor and publisher of Bhorer Kagoj

Ramzan Ali, Satkania (Chittagong): Journalists working in Chittagong's Satkania have staged a protest meeting demanding withdrawal of defamation suit filed against five people in Comilla, including Saber Hossain Chowdhury, publisher of the country's most widely published national "Daily Bhorer Kagaz" and editor Shyamal Dutta. Daily Bhorer Kagoj correspondent Nazim Uddin, Satkania Press Club president Syed Mahfuzunnabi Khokon, Dainik Prothom Alo correspondent Mamun Muhammad, Kaler Kantha correspondent Jahangir Alam, Daily Purbodesh correspondent Shahidul Islam Babar and Janakantha correspondent Sukant Bikash Dhar, Daily Ittefaq correspondent Didarul Alam, Daily Naya Diganta correspondent Manjurul Alam, GTV correspondent Harunar Rashid, Vijay TV correspondent Nasir Uddin, Global TV correspondent Tarekul Islam, Bangla TV correspondent Ehteshamul Haque Rabik Hasan, Daily Info Bangla correspondent Mohammad Hossain, lawyer Nazrul Islam, business leader Mohammad Ali and others. At the same time, the speakers said, a journalist never publishes news without data. Even then, if a person dislikes the news, he will first send a protest. If the newspaper does not press the authorities, it will issue a legal notice and file a lawsuit. But at the present time, it is seen that if someone does not like any news, he is suing. This is a major obstacle to freedom of the press. I condemn such acts. The speakers further said that the daily Bhorer Kagoj is a pro-independence newspaper. The newspaper reported on a man who had been nominated for the boat symbol despite being a drug dealer listed by the home ministry. If he does not like the news, he will protest. But he has sued directly. Although 499 Exception-1 of the Penal Code states that defamation suit will not be accepted even if the information published in the interest of the state goes against someone. So, from today's protest meeting, I strongly protest against such actions and at the same time, unconditionally, but strongly demand the withdrawal of this case.