Editors' Council for quick trial

The Editors' Council has demanded that charge be framed and trial be completed immediately in the journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case.

In February 2012, Machranga TV news editor Sagar Sarwar and ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were brutally murdered in their rented house in West Rajabazar of the capital.

Editors' Council president Mahfuz Anam and general secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud said in a statement on Thursday that the court has so far extended date for submission of an investigation report 111 times.

It also condemned the recent attack on the East West Media Group building in Bashundhara residential area of the capital.

On August 19, the offices of Kaler Kantho and Radio Capital owned by the East West Media Group were vandalised in an attack, it said, adding that several cars were also vandalised in front of the building.

The editorial board condemned this incident.

The statement also stated that on August 21, Shakil Ahmed, former news chief of Ekattor Television, and Farzana Rupa, former principal correspondent-presenter, were detained at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

Immigration authorities detained them and handed them over to the Detective Police (DB), it mentioned, adding that the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) later informed that they were arrested in a murder case.

"The Editors' Council observes that if Shakil and Farzana have committed any crime, legal action can be taken against them by following the proper procedure."

It also opined that unethical and casual journalism should be avoided, apart from professionalism.

The council, however, believes that filing a murder case is a matter of 'deep concern'.