Barishal Correspondent :
Barishal Reporters Unity held protest procession and rally against torture, reinstatement of dismissal from job, harassment of journalists by filing cases without specific charges and implementation of wage board though out the country.
On Saturday (May 3rd) morning, journalists made this demand holding procession on city roads at meeting at Barishal Reporters Unity (BRU)on the occasion of “World Press Freedom Day”. The discussion was was chaired by Barishal Reporters Unity President Anisur Rahman Swapan and moderated by Sushanta Ghosh. Among others it was addressed among others by BRU General Secretary Khalid Saifullah, journalists Mohammad Ali Khan Jasim, Shahin Hafiz, Nazrul Biswas, Mithun Saha, and victims of therecently tortured journalists Monirul Islam and N. Amin Russell.
They said that although Bangladesh is slightly advanced in the journalist torture index, but torture, harassment and oppression against journalists have not stopped yet.
So far, no trial has been held for any journalist torture or murder. Added to this is the uncertainty of livelihood.
Many journalists have been dismissed from job. The salaries and allowances of journalists have been stopped in many media houses.
Cases are being filed without any specific allegations, and no attention is being paid to improving the professional standards of journalists, resulting the dream of ‘free fair independent journalism’ yet to be gained.
The speakers demanding an end to all forms of harassment and torture against journalistsalso called the immediate reinstatement of journalists who have lost their jobs without specific allegations.
At the same time, the Barishaljournalists demanded the countrywide implementation of the recommendations of the recent Media Reform Commission and wage board.
They also condemning against the recent attacks, torture, burning of motorcycles and vandalism of cameras on two members of the Barishal Reporters Unity in the court premises.
BRU, warned that strict action will be taken if the police administration does not arrest the attackers immediately.
