FE REPORT
The Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has said the recent statement of the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) regarding journalism practices was unacceptable as it supported corrupt officials in principle.
"The threat to the media issued under the disguise of a cautionary step is subversive to free mass media and independent journalism practices," the NOAB said in a media statement on Monday.
NOAB president AK Azad and vice-president ASM Shahidullah Khan signed the statement.
Recent media reports on an unusual volume of wealth amassed by some present and past police officials have triggered widespread criticism, according to them.
Expressing concerns of and registering protests against such news reports, the BPSA has recently written to the media houses.
"The NOAB believes the protest made by the Bangladesh Police Service Association has supported the crooked officials in principle," the NOAB said.
Referring to the BPSA's statement advising journalists to refrain from doing misleading reports and follow proper rules of journalism, the NOAB says newspapers publish both positive and constructive stories on police activities.
"The media publishes different achievements and evaluation of police activities in the form of news reports," it mentions.
"In contrast, the media also plays a professional role in publishing stories on huge assets made by the officials abusing their positions," the NOAB said.
In case of any misinformation published, the respective news media should be responsible for that, it added.
The NOAB suggests that relevant organisations or individuals take help of the Bangladesh Press Council following due procedure if they are aggrieved with any misleading news reports.
"Not following such procedure, blaming each other through rejoinders, the threat to the media given under the guise of further cautions while reporting on police force in future."
The NOAB, however, expects that the police force will cooperate with media personnel in their relentless efforts to implement the government's policy against any corruption in future.
Meanwhile, different organisations have also condemned the BPSA's statement and expressed their concerns.
The Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad (BSPP), a platform of professionals, said the BPSA's statement would rather encourage corrupt individuals.
"The narrative of the Bangladesh Police Service Association is an indirect intimidation to free mass media and unbiased journalism," it added.
Such practice of intimidation was visible in police states only, said the BSPP, demanding immediate withdrawal of the BPSA's statement.
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