Sampadak Parishad expresses grave concern over cases against editors

The Editors' Council (Sampadak Parishad) today expressed deep concern over cases filed under the Digital Security Act against two editors and demanded immediate withdrawal of the cases against them in a letter.

Cases were filed against Toufique Imrose Khalidi, editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com, and Mohiuddin Sarkar, acting editor of Jagonews24.com and two others.

On behalf of the editors' body, Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, wrote a letter expressing concern over the cases filed against the two editors for reporting on misappropriation of OMS rice in Thakurgaon's Baliadangi upazila.

"At a time when the media along with the government are working round the clock against severe odds to fight the coronavirus pandemic, such efforts to harass and intimidate the media is highly regrettable," Mahfuz Anam wrote in the letter.

He also expressed concern over why the cases were filed without issuing any rejoinder or lodging any complaint with the Press Council, whose job it is to deliberate on such matters.

"We demand immediate withdrawal of these cases against the two aforementioned editors and urge all concerned to desist from such practice of attempting to stifle the media," he continued.

Khalidi, Sarker and two others were sued under the Digital Security Act for running reports containing "misinformation" on misappropriation of OMS rice.

Swechchhasebak League (Baliadangi Upazila unit) President Md Mominul Islam filed the case with Baliadangi Police Station on Friday night.