Editors demand withdrawal of Amar Desh ban
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Editors of national dailies Saturday demanded immediate withdrawal of cancellation of the declaration of daily Amar Desh and release of its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman, reports UNB.
In a joint statement they expressed concern over the ban of a daily and condemned the government actions.
"We think such a step of the government amounts to a big threat to the right to free expression, information and opinion in a lawful manner," they said.
The closure of the newspaper will send a negative message worldwide about Bangladesh's tolerance to different views, democratic values and culture. At the same time it will be considered an impediment to democratic norms and culture.
Besides, the closure of the daily has rendered jobless about 700 newsmen and staff of the daily, added the statement.
Signatories to the statement include The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, News Today Editor Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, The Financial Express Editor Moazzem Hossain, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Shamokal Editor Golam Sarwar, Kaler Kantho Editor Abed Khan, The Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Daily Songram Editor Abul Asad, Manobjamin Editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Jugantor Editor Salma Islam MP, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Mojumdar, Ekhon Editor Shawkat Mahmud, Amader Samoy Editor Naimul Islam and Dainik Dinkal Acting Editor Rezwan Siddiqi.
In a joint statement they expressed concern over the ban of a daily and condemned the government actions.
"We think such a step of the government amounts to a big threat to the right to free expression, information and opinion in a lawful manner," they said.
The closure of the newspaper will send a negative message worldwide about Bangladesh's tolerance to different views, democratic values and culture. At the same time it will be considered an impediment to democratic norms and culture.
Besides, the closure of the daily has rendered jobless about 700 newsmen and staff of the daily, added the statement.
Signatories to the statement include The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, News Today Editor Reaz Uddin Ahmed, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, The Financial Express Editor Moazzem Hossain, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Shamokal Editor Golam Sarwar, Kaler Kantho Editor Abed Khan, The Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Daily Songram Editor Abul Asad, Manobjamin Editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Jugantor Editor Salma Islam MP, New Nation Editor Mostafa Kamal Mojumdar, Ekhon Editor Shawkat Mahmud, Amader Samoy Editor Naimul Islam and Dainik Dinkal Acting Editor Rezwan Siddiqi.