Hasnat clarifies position on Somoy TV journalists' layoff issue

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has explained about his involvement in the issue of Somoy Television journalists' layoffs.

Hasnat outlined his position in a press release on his verified Facebook page on Friday (December 27).

He calls the allegations against him regarding the sudden job loss of five Somoy Television journalists untrue and a conspiracy.

In the release, Hasnat Abdullah said: "The allegations made against me regarding the sudden job loss of five media workers at Somoy Television are untrue and conspiratorial. I don't think there is any other purpose than trying to tarnish my image."

As stated in the report, he said: "On December 26, a BBC report quoted the French news agency AFP as saying, 'Hasnat Abdullah, along with a group of about 15 people, went to the head office of City Group and pressured some people to be fired,' the company's managing director, Md. Hasan, confirmed to BBC Bangla.'"

"The five dismissed journalists alleged, 'On December 18, Hasnat Abdullah, the top leader of the anti-discrimination student movement, met with the managing director of City Group, the investor of Soami TV, along with a few others, and gave them a list of 10 people of the TV station and pressured them to be fired.'"

Hasnat Abdullah, stating the 'real story', said that the entire country knows that Somoy Television has been working as a propaganda cell for fascism for years as the worst spokesperson for fascist Hasina. The job of Somoy TV was to regularly report on opposition leaders including BNP-Jamaat. Those associated with it have been carrying out unethical and dishonest journalism for years, taking an anti-people stance in coordination with the Awami League's propaganda cell CRI. One of the fascist Hasina's henchmen was Kamrul Islam, who was under its leadership behind the scenes. Morshedul Islam, the brother of Kamrul Islam, is still with Somoy TV; who is assassinating the character of students and the public from behind the scenes on behalf of the fallen Awami League.

There is no such injustice and immoral act that this media has not done. Even after the murder of Chattogram lawyer Alif, abandoning the journalistic ethics of the August 5 student uprising, this media has given false information.

"We were already aware about these activities. Some journalists from City Group-owned Somoy TV took us to the office of MD Mr. Hasan at 4pm on December 17 after some persuasion. We did not understand that it was a conspiracy at that time. We went to talk to Mr. Hasan with an open mind."

"We spoke to him for only 30 minutes and left. However, BBC Bangla's report says that I went on December 18. It is clear from this that BBC Bangla did not verify the truth of this incident properly."

The post stated: "I was introduced to the Managing Director (MD) of City Group Mr. Hasan through a journalist from Somoy Television. In our brief meeting, various issues going on at Somoy Television in the aftermath of August 5 were discussed. There, the people present, including me, called for fact-based journalism by disseminating accurate news. I requested them to come out of propaganda journalism."

"I say with responsibility and firmness that I did not give a list of any journalists there and I do not personally know the journalists who were dismissed from their jobs. I challenge the news agency AFP and BBC Bangla that I have given a list of journalists to the City Group and Somoy Television authorities and pressured them to dismiss someone. If they have any evidence to support that, they should present it. If they cannot present it, they should admit it."

"I think that ‘Mr. Hasan has made a complaint’ cannot be the main basis for such a report. Because when Mr. Hasan is talking to me on the telephone, he says that I did not provide him with any layoff list or say anything like that. I can provide evidence in support of this statement."

"However, it is clear that Mr. Hasan, the owner of City Group, is carrying out a deep conspiracy to defame me. He has made false and baseless allegations against me in the domestic and foreign media, which the TV channels he owns have been doing for a long time."

Explaining his position, the anti-discrimination leader said: "I want to make it clear that I have been used in a planned manner in this entire conspiracy. It was my mistake to go and talk to the owner of Somoy TV, which I have no hesitation in admitting. I believe in the freedom of the media. We have fought and shed blood to establish that any media outlet will definitely write against me or us based on accurate information. We brought down the monster Hasina to ensure the freedom of the media, to improve journalism as a profession, not to dismiss journalists."

He demands

1. "I have no connection whatsoever with the five journalists who have been dismissed. I strongly demand that these five be reinstated.

2. An independent investigation committee should be formed to identify those who are actually involved in this conspiracy.

3. Mr Hasan's role should be investigated for the conspiracy to defame me by giving false information.

4. After the BBC report was published, Mr. Hasan has repeatedly offered to talk to me through various reporters. I have told them to send a protest to the media if he has not given such a statement to the BBC.

Finally, he said: "However, I request that the attempt to undermine my personal and social position through false and baseless allegations be stopped. We call on everyone to work together to protect media freedom and ensure the fair rights of all victims of this conspiracy."