NOAB concerned over threat to media

Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) has expressed its concern over the recent administrative and legal moves to pressurise and threaten media, saying that these restrict opinion and freedom of expression.

In a statement on Monday, NOAB also strongly condemned the police attempt to search the office of the daily New Age on December 28. "Law enforcers threatened its journalists with dire consequences after being barred from entering the office and filming the reporters."

Voicing their concern, NOAB leaders said pressure was being put on electronic media by imposing various kinds of restrictions on television talk show and live broadcast.

"NOAB considers that these incidents limit opinion and freedom of expression of the media," said the statement.

They were critical over the arrest of ETV Chairman Abdus Salam and said telecast of the private television channel still remained shut in many parts of the country.

The statement was issued after a meeting of the NOAB.

Issues relating to importance of responsible broadcasting by the television channels and various aspects of the newspaper industry also came up at the meeting for discussion.

Chaired by NOAB President and Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, the meeting was attended by AK Azad, Tasmima Hossain, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, ASM Shahidullah Khan, Mahfuz Anam, Reazuddin Ahmed, Syeed Hossain Chowdhury, Altamash Kabir, M Shamsur Rahman and Kazi Anis Ahmed.