Journos demand access to SC courtrooms
The Law Reporters Forum (LRF) on Wednesday staged a sit-in outside the Supreme Court, demanding immediate restoration of journalists’ access to courtrooms of the Appellate Division and various High Court Division benches.
Journalists covering law, justice and parliamentary affairs said the restriction is creating significant professional obstacles and undermining principles of transparency, open justice and the public’s right to information.
Leaders of several journalists’ organisations joined the LRF programme and warned that a joint programme to enter the courtrooms would be announced in coordination with organisations representing journalists’ interests if the restriction is not withdrawn.
The programme was chaired by LRF President Mohammad Yasin and moderated by its General Secretary Arafat Munna. More than 200 journalists from different organisations participated in the protest in solidarity with the demand.
Among those present were Editors Guild President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, former LRF president and Ittefaq Executive Editor Saleh Uddin, Dhaka Journalists Union President Shahidul Islam, Dhaka Reporters Unity President Abu Saleh Akon.
Former DRU president and RTV Head of News Elias Hossain, Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association General Secretary M M Badshah, Reporters Against Corruption President Shafi Uddin Ahmed and Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy President Kazi Jebel.
Former LRF presidents M Badi-Uz-Zaman and Ashutosh Sarkar, along with Shamima Akter, also attended the programme.
Speaking at the sit-in, Editors Guild President Nurul Kabir said expectations for democracy, democratic rights and justice had emerged following a bloody mass uprising, making it particularly important for the media to inform the public about judicial proceedings.
“But the leadership of the highest level of the judiciary is depriving the people of their right to information,” he said.
Nurul Kabir recalled that the media had stood by the judiciary whenever different governments had attempted to suppress the courts or the judicial system.
“When that same media faces obstacles from the highest court while carrying out its responsibilities, questions arise about the democratic mindset of the leadership of the judiciary,” he added.
Speakers said journalists have been unable to directly observe proceedings in pending cases since being barred from entering the courtrooms of the Appellate Division and various High Court Division benches on January 7.
They said the restriction not only hampers journalists’ ability to collect accurate information but also raises broader questions about transparency in the judicial process, open justice and citizens’ access to information.
The protest was joined by leaders of the Editors Guild, Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB), Reporters Against Corruption (RAC) and Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy (RFED).
The journalists demanded that the restriction be withdrawn immediately so they can resume directly observing court proceedings as part of their professional responsibilities.
