Bangladesh’s editorial council demands withdrawal of false cases against journalists

Kathmandu. The Bangladesh Editorial Council has urged the government to withdraw false cases filed against journalists across the country. The demand was made in a statement issued by the council’s president Nurul Kabir and general secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmood.

According to the statement, since August 5, 2024, many false murder cases and other harassment cases have been filed against journalists in different parts of the country. These cases have forced many journalists to go to court regularly. “This has disrupted their regular professional activities and undermined media freedom,” the council said.

“If there are substantive and evidence-based allegations against journalists, they should be resolved through an impartial judicial process in accordance with existing laws,” the statement said. ”

The Council has repeatedly urged the interim government to withdraw false and motivated cases and take effective steps to stop harassment of journalists. Although the government has assured to review the cases and withdraw the false and harassing cases, there has been no meaningful progress in this regard.

The editorial council has urged the newly-elected government to immediately withdraw false and harassing cases filed against journalists, keeping this issue in high priority. The Council has reiterated this expectation that the guarantee of press freedom and professional security is the fundamental commitment of a democratic state.