Press Council bars media from reporting on case arguments

The Bangladesh Press Council has issued a notice barring the media from publishing arguments between judges and lawyers in court during the proceedings of sub-judice cases, reports bdnews24.com.

"The media should refrain from publishing any comment or opinions that might affect the verdict of the pending cases and offend the judges," the council said in a statement on Monday.

The actual picture of the ongoing cases can be published after verifying details from the relevant bench officer, registrar of the High Court and the Appellate Division, if any doubt arises, it said.

Media outlets are requested to follow the code of conduct formulated for journalists by the Bangladesh Press Council.

It is the responsibility of the newspapers to publish news relating to case under trial and to publish the final judgment of the court to reveal the actual picture of issues relating to trial. But a journalist shall refrain from publishing such comment or opinion as is likely to influence an under-trial case, until the final verdict is announced, according to the code of conduct.