Editors Council expresses grave concern

The Editor's Council Monday condemned and expressed grave concern over the imprisonment of journalist Shafiuzzaman Rana, Nakla upazila correspondent of Bangla daily Desh Rupantor, who was sentenced to six months in prison by a mobile court.

Expressing concern over such increasing moves against journalists, the council warned that such actions are harming the environment of free and independent journalism, says a press statement.

“Shafiuzzaman Rana filed an application with the office of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer seeking information about the purchase of computers and laptops under the Annual Development Programme,” said the statement signed by Editors’ Council President Mahfuz Anam, also the editor of The Daily Star, and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of daily Bonik Barta.

The UNO, in response, set up a mobile court and sent him to jail on March 5, instead of providing the information. Moreover, his bail process was intentionally delayed as the UNO, Sadia Ummul Bani, delayed in providing the document of the verdict, said the council.

“The incident reflects the government officials’ traditional attitude of showing power. Lingering the process for seeking bail was deliberate although it was a minimum legal right in any case,” the statement said.

It said that the accused was not given any scope for self-defence before the mobile court as he was sent to jail by an executive magistrate through a unilateral hearing.

The council demanded an end to operations of the mobile court against journalists and its misuse for the sake of free-thinking and free media.