Protest Over GD Against Journalist Shamsul Islam

48-Hour Ultimatum to Withdraw Case and Take Action Against Banani Biswas

NN Report:

Journalists have strongly protested a general diary (GD) filed against senior reporter Shamsul Islam of Daily Naya Diganta by Banani Biswas, a former Deputy Commissioner of Netrokona and currently a Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology. The GD, which journalists described as “harassment and intimidation,” was lodged at Ramna Model Police Station on November 5, allegedly in retaliation for a corruption report published against the official.

At a protest rally held on Sunday (November 9) in front of the National Press Club, organized by the Anti-Persecution Journalists Alliance, journalist leaders demanded that the “false and vindictive” GD be withdrawn within 48 hours and that Banani Biswas be removed from her post and face departmental action.

The rally was presided over by Masudul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), and conducted by Abul Kalam, convener of the Anti-Persecution Journalists Alliance. Leaders from various journalist associations including the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Rajshahi Division Journalists Association, and North Bengal Journalists Forum participated in the demonstration.

Speakers alleged that following the publication of a report exposing corruption and irregularities by Banani Biswas, a primary investigation had found evidence against her, leading to her transfer from Netrokona to the Ministry of Public Administration, and later to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Ministry of Public Administration has since initiated a formal inquiry into the allegations.

They further claimed that the GD filed by Banani Biswas was a “revengeful move” aimed at intimidating and harassing journalist Shamsul Islam. The allegations mentioned in the GD were termed as “fabricated, baseless, and politically motivated,” constituting “a direct attack on press freedom.”

Speakers at the rally questioned how an official “with a controversial record and past allegations” dared to file a GD against a journalist performing his professional duty. “Publishing reports based on facts is a journalist’s responsibility,” they said, adding that Banani Biswas could have issued a rejoinder or filed a complaint with the Press Council if she felt aggrieved, instead of resorting to intimidation through police action.

Journalist leaders issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the withdrawal of the GD and called for departmental action against Banani Biswas. They also urged the Chief Adviser, Adviser on Information Affairs, the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Ministry of Science and Technology to take appropriate measures.

Earlier, on July 30, Daily Naya Diganta published an investigative report detailing allegations of corruption and irregularities involving Banani Biswas. Following a preliminary probe that found merit in the allegations, the Ministry of Public Administration withdrew her from the post of Netrokona DC on August 25 and launched a formal investigation into the matter.