(Media Watch/IFEX) – Ruling Awami League lawmaker Joynal Abedin Hazari, known as “the terrorist godfather” in Feni, verbally assaulted the daily “Prothom Alo” and other newspapers for writing about his misdeeds, including an assault on journalist Tipu Sultan in January 2001 (see IFEX alerts of 25 and 24 April, 29 March and 1 February 2001). […]
(Media Watch/IFEX) – Ruling Awami League lawmaker Joynal Abedin Hazari, known as “the terrorist godfather” in Feni, verbally assaulted the daily “Prothom Alo” and other newspapers for writing about his misdeeds, including an assault on journalist Tipu Sultan in January 2001 (see IFEX alerts of 25 and 24 April, 29 March and 1 February 2001). On Tuesday 26 June, he launched a vicious, personal and defamatory attack on “Prothom Alo” editor Motiur Rahaman, claiming that Rahman had brought Sultan’s sister Mukta from her residence in Mollarhat and was confining her inside his residence in the capital, Dhaka. During discussions in parliament on the proposed budget, Hazari alleged that Rahman had brought Sultan’s sister to his home, promising her an interview with some foreign diplomats.
Parliamentary procedural rules do not permit any personal attack in parliament, especially against persons who cannot defend themselves on the floor of parliament.
Surprisingly, the deputy speaker, who was chairing the session at the time, did not try to stop Hazari, nor did he warn him about the parliamentary norms. The speaker also did not expunge Hazari’s remarks about the vernacular daily editor.
The daily “Prothom Alo” has formally protested the ruling party members of parliament’s (MP) statements against its editor, Rahman, saying that his comments were not only a “character assassination” of the editor but also intended to send a vindictive message to all editors practicing independent journalism. The daily’s statement indicated that it is clear that Hazari made the vicious attack after being angered by reports about the terrorist attack on United News of Bangladesh’s (UNB) Feni correspondent Sultan and by the establishment of a fund raised by “Prothom Alo” and “The Daily Star” for Sultan’s treatment abroad. On 13 June, Hazari protested the fundraising, and this time, he spread a false story that Rahman had confined Sultan’s sister at his residence.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Send appeals to the speaker of parliament:
– expressing concern about the use of the parliament floor as a forum for attacks on the editor
– condemning the role of the deputy speaker, as chair of the session, who should have stopped Hazari, according to procedures of parliamentary rule
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– requesting that she stop her party MPs’ continuous attacks on the press and journalists
Send appeals to the home minister:
– asking him to ensure the journalist’s safety
Appeals To
Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed
Honourable President of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 956 6242
Honourable Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of the PR Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 811 3244/811 1015
Honourable Humayun Rashid Chowdhury
Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh
Fax: +880 2 811 2267
Mohd. Nasim
Honourable Home Minister
Fax: +880 2 861 9667
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
