Newsmen demand release of Khaleda before Mar 26
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
About 700 journalists and columnists including both incumbent and former editors of a number of national dailies issued a joint statement Tuesday demanding release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia by March 26, reports bdnews24.com.
They also demanded that other political prisoners be freed before Independence Day.
The signatories included Ataus Samad, advisory editor of the daily Amar Desh, Hasanuzzaman Khan, former managing director of the BSS, Shafik Rehman, editor of the daily Jai Jai Din, Sadeque Khan, former chairman of the PIB, Amanullah, former managing director and chief editor of the BSS, Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of the daily News Today, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, editor of the daily Khobor Potro, Amanullah Kabir, editor of the daily Amar Desh, Akhtar Ul Alam, former advisory editor of the daily Ittefaq, Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of the daily Naya Digonto, Abul Asad, editor of the daily Shongram, Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of the daily Jonokontho, Mofakkharul Anam, former managing director and editor-in-chief of the BSS, Golam Tahabur, former Bureau chief of the AFP, Mozammel Haque, president of the BFUJ, Ruhul Amin Gazi, secretary general of the BFUJ, Showkat Mahmud, president of the National Press Club, Abdul Baten, chief editor of the daily Dinkal and Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, editor of the daily New Nation.
Demanding release of Khaleda Zia before Independence Day, the statement stated: "We are urging the caretaker government to release Khaleda Zia immediately."
Noting that there were myriad questions about the cases filed against Khaleda Zia, the statement added: "Khaleda Zia has been granted bail by the High Court. She should be released immediately on humanitarian and rational grounds by the caretaker government to uphold political stability and justice."
The signatories to the statement also simultaneously demanded the release of all political prisoners.
Urging the government to lift the State of Emergency, they said, "We call upon the government to rescind all irrational, unnecessary and questionable laws under the Emergency Powers Rules prior to lifting the State of Emergency."
They also demanded that other political prisoners be freed before Independence Day.
The signatories included Ataus Samad, advisory editor of the daily Amar Desh, Hasanuzzaman Khan, former managing director of the BSS, Shafik Rehman, editor of the daily Jai Jai Din, Sadeque Khan, former chairman of the PIB, Amanullah, former managing director and chief editor of the BSS, Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of the daily News Today, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, editor of the daily Khobor Potro, Amanullah Kabir, editor of the daily Amar Desh, Akhtar Ul Alam, former advisory editor of the daily Ittefaq, Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of the daily Naya Digonto, Abul Asad, editor of the daily Shongram, Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of the daily Jonokontho, Mofakkharul Anam, former managing director and editor-in-chief of the BSS, Golam Tahabur, former Bureau chief of the AFP, Mozammel Haque, president of the BFUJ, Ruhul Amin Gazi, secretary general of the BFUJ, Showkat Mahmud, president of the National Press Club, Abdul Baten, chief editor of the daily Dinkal and Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, editor of the daily New Nation.
Demanding release of Khaleda Zia before Independence Day, the statement stated: "We are urging the caretaker government to release Khaleda Zia immediately."
Noting that there were myriad questions about the cases filed against Khaleda Zia, the statement added: "Khaleda Zia has been granted bail by the High Court. She should be released immediately on humanitarian and rational grounds by the caretaker government to uphold political stability and justice."
The signatories to the statement also simultaneously demanded the release of all political prisoners.
Urging the government to lift the State of Emergency, they said, "We call upon the government to rescind all irrational, unnecessary and questionable laws under the Emergency Powers Rules prior to lifting the State of Emergency."