Janakantha allegedly taken over, 40 including editor sued

A group of employees at the daily newspaper 'Janakantha' has declared the editor unwanted and announced the formation of a new editorial board to oversee the publication. These employees, who were appointed at various times following the fall of the Awami League government, have also launched a movement, putting forward five key demands.

Meanwhile, Janakantha’s Deputy Chief Reporter, Israfil Farazi, filed a case on Sunday (August 3) against Editor and Publisher Shamima A Khan along with 40 others. The case alleges that a black-colored 'news card' was published on the newspaper’s official Facebook page, purportedly in support of the Awami League.

However, Janakantha Editor Shamima A Khan told the media, “The Janakantha building was taken over through a planned conspiracy and by provoking chaos and mob unrest.”

She accused Major (retd) Afizur Rahman, Chief Operating Officer of Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar, and Joynal Abedin Shishir, Joint Convener of the National Citizen Party and Planning Adviser to the newspaper, of orchestrating the “takeover and conspiracy.”

Afizur Rahman, who served in the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) for nearly a decade, joined the newspaper Dainik Bangla as Executive Director after retiring from the army. The paper is owned by controversial businessman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat.

Joynal Abedin Shishir currently serves as a joint convener of the newly formed political party, the National Citizens Party (NCP).

Both Afizur Rahman and Joynal Abedin Shishir have denied the allegations of taking over 'Janakantha' in their statements to the media.

Shishir said that the new editorial board was formed with the unanimous consent of Janakantha's journalists. Afizur Rahman dismissed the editor’s accusations as “false.”

Sources close to the owners of Janakantha claim that the newspaper is currently being managed by the board formed by journalists, while the owners are being pressured in different ways.