Staff Reporter :
The Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) staged a protest rally on Wednesday in front of the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) office in the city, demanding an immediate removal of BSS Managing Director Mahbub Morshed.
The protest was in response to Morshed’s alleged arrogance towards DUJ, labeling the union as a ‘terrorist organization’ in various official letters, reluctance to investigate huge corruption committed during past fascist regime, and his role in protecting authoritarian collaborators.
Presiding over the pre-scheduled protest rally, DUJ President Md. Shahidul Islam, along with other speakers, strongly demanded Morshed’s dismissal. They criticized his last six months in office, arguing that his actions have significantly tarnished the reputation of the current government.
The speakers condemned his incompetence in running the news agency and accused him of fostering an environment of chaos in nexus with corrupt fascist elements.
Referring to Mahbub Morshed’s past social media posts glorifying the previous authoritarian government, the speakers highlighted his ongoing repressive actions against journalists, who had fallen victims to fascist regime for 16 years. They also accused him of sheltering corrupt and terrorizing individuals within BSS, urging the interim government to take an immediate action and remove him from his position.
In his concluding remarks, DUJ President Shahidul Islam issued a stern ultimatum, calling for Morshed’s removal by March 17 to resolve the crisis. Failure to comply, he warned, would result in the announcement of larger protest programs.
The meeting, conducted by DUJ Treasurer Khandaker Alamgir Hossain, was addressed by General Secretary Khurshid Alam, Senior Vice President Rafique Muhammad, former BSS Unit Chief Abul Kalam Manik, former President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Rafiqul Islam Azad, Vice President Gazi Anowar, former Vice President Khandaker Kawsar Hossain, BFUJ Office Secretary Abu Bakar Mia, Executive Members Shaheen Hasnat and Abu Hanif, DUJ Publicity Secretary Abul Kalam, Welfare Secretary Salah Uddin Razzak, Office Secretary Iqbal Mojumder Touhid, Executive Members, Nizam Uddin Darbesh, Raju Ahmed, M. Mosharraf Hossain, Talukdar Rumi, and Fakhrul Islam, along with former Executive Members H.M. Al-Amin, Jasim Mehedi, and Abdul Halim.
Also present at the protest rally were Daily Nayadiganta Unit Chief Amir Hamza Chowdhury, The Daily New Nation Unit Chief Noman Mosharraf, DUJ members Shakhawat Moin Chowdhury, Zahirul Haque Rana, Kamruzzaman Babul, Mashiur Rahman Rubel, S.M. Mizan, Sardar Motiur Rahman, Fayez Ullah Manik, Aminul Islam, Russel Ahmed, and Anisur Rahman.
