Journalists condemn case against Pintu-Tuhin

Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and other journalist associations have recently expressed deep concern over the filing of a defamation case against Dainik Bangla acting editor Sharifuzzaman Pintu and special correspondent Arifuzzaman Tuhin for publishing a report.

On Wednesday last week, DUJ president Sohel Haider Chowdhury and general secretary Aktar Hossain and DRU acting president Dipu Sarwar and general secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, and members of Reporters Against Corruption (RAC) demanded immediate withdrawal of such harassment cases against two journalists with a Cox’s Bazar court.

In a joint statement, DUJ and DRU leaders said, “Harassment cases continue against journalists for publishing news. When the truth is revealed, a group is trying to suppress the voice of journalists.

‘The media and journalists cannot be prevented from revealing the truth by filing such harassing and false cases. In reverse, the deeds of the criminals would be revealed.”

Doinik Bangla on January 6 published a report titled ‘’No Badi people in the list of 255”, with the headline referring to the Former Awami League law maker Abdur Rahman Badi.

According to the report, Shafiullah Shafi, editor of the local Daily Inani, is number 3 on a list of 255 yaba smugglers made by several government agencies.

Shafiullah later filed a defamation case of Tk 100 crore with the Cox’s Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate’s Court on January 9, accusing Sharifuzzaman and Arifuzzaman Tuhin on charge of publishing the news.