Press Unity’s News Human Chain for Journalists’ Livelihood and Safety

A News Human chain was formed demanding livelihood security, life safety for journalists, and justice for all journalist killings including that of Sagar-Runi. The program was held on 25 August at 11 a.m. in front of the National Press Club, presided over by Bangladesh Press Unity Coordinator Shanta Farjana.

Speakers included Press Unity Advisor and Editor of Dainik Janatar Sangbad freedom fighter M. Shahjahan Ali, Editor of Dainik Swadesh Bichitra Ashok Dhar, journalist Mueed Khondoker, Acting Editor of Dainik Purbavas and founder of Press Unity Momin Mahadi, Saeeda Jahan, Nurul Islam, Ashraful Alam, and Zahidul Islam. Expressing solidarity were journalists Nahid Hasan, Tarek Hossain Bappi, Razu Hossain, Mostafizur Rahman, Jamal Shikder, Mustafa Mahmud, Rajibul Islam, among others.

At the event, Press Unity leaders said: through disclosing the true cause of senior journalist Bibhoranjan Sarker’s death, at the very least it must be ensured that journalism is still regarded as the fourth estate in Bangladesh. Since independence, this profession has remained the most deprived, repressed, and persecuted. Whenever a government comes to power, they try to enslave journalists, suppress their voices, and cover up crimes and corruption. Perhaps for this reason, although promises were made to arrest the killers of Sagar-Runi within 24 hours, they remain at large. Nearly 14 years have passed, and instead of justice, we have read and reported 120 times only about “new dates.” Most recently, the body of senior journalist Bibhoranjan Sarker was recovered from the Meghna River. Rumors suggest suicide—but his eyeglasses were still on his body. Earlier, after journalist Tuhin was hacked to death, attempts were made by some powerful figures to assassinate his character.

During the program, copies of published news reports on the killings of Sagar, Runi, Tuhin, and others were displayed. In her concluding remarks, President Shanta Farzana said: like all previous governments, the interim government has failed to uphold freedom of expression for journalists in Bangladesh. Therefore, this government must first ensure freedom of speech and the uninterrupted flow of independent news. No journalist should be dismissed from their job; along with institutional responsibility, the government must introduce a special allowance for journalists. To guarantee their safety, a “Journalists’ Safety Act” must be implemented. Otherwise, the government’s own position will become unstable.