The Editors’ Council demanded the immediate repeal of special laws restricting and controlling freedom of speech, creativity and independent press.
This demand was made in a statement signed by the President of the Editors’ Council Mahfuz Anam and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud on Monday (August 12).
In the statement, the Editors’ Council expressed deep respect to the journalists, students, teachers, youth, ordinary citizens and policemen who died in the recent mass agitation.
It is said that all past harassment cases including the recently filed harassment cases against journalists should be canceled and withdrawn. In particular, all cases filed under the Cyber Security Act and earlier Digital Security Act should be withdrawn and quashed.
It is also said that offices of newspapers and television channels were attacked and property destroyed during the mass agitation. The Editors’ Council does not support such events. At the same time, the Council considers unethical and casual journalism to be unacceptable without professionalism.
Previous governments have taken various steps to stifle and regulate the voice of free speech, creativity and independent press industry. In particular, it took the initiative to enact several restrictive laws. These laws include the Data Protection Act (Draft) 2022, Digital, Social Media and OTT Regulations 2021 (Draft), Media Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act 2022 (Draft), National Online Media Policy 2017, The Press Council (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Draft).
The statement said, these proposed special laws should be repealed immediately and efforts to impose restrictions on public and private advertisements in newspapers as in the past should be stopped. All the activities of government agency DFP should be transparent and open. The Press Council should be restructured and made into an effective body.
Above all, the Editors’ Council calls for the removal of obstacles to independent journalism.
It is mentioned in the statement that these calls were made in a meeting of the Council on August 10, along with discussions on recent issues.
The meeting held at the Daily Star office was presided over by The Daily Star Editor and President of the Editors’ Council Mahfuz Anam, Ittefaq Editor Tasmima Hossain, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, New Age Editor and Senior Vice President of Editors Council Nurul Kabir, Financial Express Editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Sangbad Editor Altamash Kabir, Banik Berta Editor and Editors’ Council General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Dhaka Tribune Editor and Joint Secretary of the Editors Council Zafar Sobhan, Naya Digant Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Samakal Editor Alamgir Hossain, DEsh Rupantar Editor Mostafa Mamun, Pratidiner Bangladesh Editor Mustafiz Shafi and Sangbad Executive Editor Shahriar Karim.
Daily Purbakon Editor Dr. M Ramizuddin Chowdhury and Suprabhat Bangladesh Editor Rusho Mahmud Editor virtually participated in the meeting.