(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the government’s decision to withdraw the publishing licence of the opposition newspaper “Dainik Uttarabanga Barta”, just as the opposition has made a positive gesture by agreeing to sit in Parliament. “This affair newly discredits the commitments of Khaleda Zia’s government in support of press freedom,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. In […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the government’s decision to withdraw the publishing licence of the opposition newspaper “Dainik Uttarabanga Barta”, just as the opposition has made a positive gesture by agreeing to sit in Parliament. “This affair newly discredits the commitments of Khaleda Zia’s government in support of press freedom,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. In a letter to Information Minister Moyeen Khan, the organisation called on the government to reverse its decision.
RSF also asked for an explanation regarding the recent search of the offices of “Linkbangla” magazine, which have apparently led the publication’s managing director to go into exile, fearing he would be arrested. “In light of these two cases, one can question the credibility of the government’s criticism of the last Reporters Without Borders report on the press freedom situation in Bangladesh, which warned of an increase in repression against private media,” said Ménard.
According to information obtained by the organisation, on 5 July 2002, the government withdrew the publishing licence of the local newspaper “Dainik Uttarabanga Barta”, published in Natore (northern Bangladesh). The authorities criticised the newspaper for publishing an article on 26 March, the day of the country’s independence, which incorrectly identified Prime Minister Khaleda Zia as the opposition leader and opposition leader Sheikh Hasina as prime minister.
Hanif Ali Sheikh, the newspaper’s managing director and a local leader of the Awami League (opposition party), said that it was simply a mistake caused by incorrect data processing. He apologised for the error and published an erratum the following day on the newspaper’s front page. Local officials filed charges against the publication despite the correction. After Sheikh gave his explanation, the local administration decided not to withdraw the newspaper’s license. Three months later, following an injunction from the government in Dhaka, the local administration withdrew the newspaper’s licence, in accordance with article 20(D) of the 1973 press law. The newspaper’s publisher called this a “political decision” and said he would launch an appeal.
In another case, Monjurul Azim Palash, publisher of “Linkbangla” magazine, decided to go into exile in Great Britain after receiving threats. The Dhaka offices of the magazine, which targets Bangladeshi readers living in Europe, were searched by police. Police seized copies of the May-June issue and questioned members of the journalist’s family. The reasons for this harassment are unknown, but Palash told RSF that he was planning to hold a press conference in London.
