It was brave of him to admit mistake

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam has done a courageous thing by admitting his mistake, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu has said.

"In my view, Mahfuz Anam's comment is a lesson for the media. I also think that he has done a courageous thing. It is good to admit mistakes," he said in an interview with BBC Bangla last night.

At a talk show in a private TV channel on February 3, Mahfuz Anam made an introspective comment about a lapse in his editorial judgement in publishing, following the 1/11 changeover, a few reports that the newspaper could not verify independently.

Inu yesterday said the reactions that are coming out following Mahfuz Anam's comment are helpful for democracy.

If the question of trying Mahfuz Anam arises, then some ruling party leaders who lied about Sheikh Hasina and made defamatory remarks about her during the post-1/11 period are also “triable”, he said.

Inu's remarks came hours after two defamation cases were filed against The Daily Star editor by Chhatra League leaders in Laxmipur and Khulna for "publishing without verification reports on Sheikh Hasina based on information provided by the DGFI after the 1/11 political changeover".

Asked about the government's view on the defamation cases, Inu told BBC Bangla, "The government did not file any case. The cases were filed by individuals. The government has not made any statement on this matter.”

If those, who gave in to pressure and did something unethical, later admit their mistakes and offer apology, it would be a courageous thing to do.

"From that perspective, I am praising Mahfuz Anam for his courageous comment," he added.

BBC then drew his attention to the fact that not only The Daily Star but also many other newspapers had carried news without verification at that time.

Asked if the government would take any action against the DGFI officials who provided the information, Inu said if a government official breaks the rules of secrecy, it is a punishable offence. But if a government official speaks on any other issue [that doesn't involve the rules of secrecy], it can be verified.

"But I don't know whether they [government officials] had said such things or not."

Enquired further, the minister said, “Suppose you think about something which could be defamatory. But it will not have any impact until you express it or make it public. And responsibility falls on the editor who publishes it.” 

He, however, said it can be investigated who supplied the information and how.

"The scope of work of intelligence agencies could be looked into. We can set a new method of work for them," he added.

As BBC mentioned that the video clips of those interrogated by military detectives

can be found on the internet, and the leaders who gave information against Hasina are still in the ruling party, the minister said, "Yes, they are in the ruling party. And they have lied against the prime minister and also made defamatory remarks.

"If the question of trial arises and any incident of defamation had taken place, everyone [involved] is triable. Why should Mahfuz Anam be the only person?"

Asked if the government would take any initiative to hold trial, he said the government is not thinking about the matter right now.

The minister outright rejected the allegation that moves are being made to harass the editors who criticise the government.

“No, this allegation is not true. The government did not force Mahfuz Anam to make that comment; he said on his own that he was involved in this type of undesirable incidents during the quasi-military rule.  So the reactions and discussions that are going on in this respect are good for democracy.”

BBC also talked to media personality Muhammad Jahangir, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed and Awami League lawmaker Fazle Noor Taposh on the issue.

Jahangir said some people are demanding trial and punishment of Mahfuz Anam and also his resignation for running the reports supplied by the DGFI (the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence). But no one is talking about trial of the then chief of the DGFI, who prepared and supplied the reports.

"Nobody is demanding his [the then DGFI chief] trial."

What is more interesting is that no one is demanding trial of those who were the key players behind 1/11, he said.

Jahangir also said as far as he knew the Awami League government did not file any case against any of those people though it has been in power for quite long.

Reazuddin Ahmed said there is an attempt to “implicate Mahfuz Anam politically”.

Taposh, one of the seven lawmakers who criticised the newspaper and its editor at the Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday, said Mahfuz Anam didn't verify the reports provided by the DGFI. He published those and “hatched a conspiracy” to banish Sheikh Hasina from politics.

He deserves to be punished, said Taposh.

Asked why they are not saying anything about the officials who provided the information, he said it is an administrative matter.

"As far as I know, action was taken against the officials involved in it. But action could not be taken against many others as they left the country," he added.