48-hour ultimatum to withdraw GD against journalist Shamsul Islam

Former DC of Netrokona (currently Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology) Banani Biswas has filed a GD (General Diary) against Shamsul Islam, a permanent member of Dhaka Reporters Unity and senior reporter of Naya Diganta, for publishing the news. He filed this harassing GD at Ramna Model Police Station in the capital on November 5. Journalist leaders have strongly condemned and protested the incident and demanded that the GD be withdrawn within 48 hours and Banani Biswas be removed from his workplace and departmental action be taken.

This demand was made at a protest rally organized by the Anti-Oppression Journalist Alliance in front of the National Press Club at 12 noon on Sunday (November 9). Rajshahi Division Journalists Association, North Bengal Journalists Forum, Rajshahi University Press Club Alumni Association, Natore District Journalists Association participated in the rally under their respective banners.

The protest meeting, chaired by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) President Masudul Haque and moderated by Anti-Oppression Journalists Alliance convener Abul Kalam, was addressed by Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ) President Shahidul Islam, Vice President Rashidul Haque, Vice President Rafiq Mohammad, General Secretary Khurshid Alam, former Vice President of Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFJU) Modabber Hossain, former President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Rafiqul Islam Azad, Mursalin Nomani, former General Secretary of DUJ Muhammad Baker Hossain, former Joint Editor and General Secretary of North Bengal Journalists Forum Tofazzal Hossain, DUJ Organizing Secretary Saeed Khan, DUJ Treasurer Khandaker Alamgir Hossain, DRU Vice President Gazi Anwar, former Vice President Mahmudul Hasan, Former Organizing Secretary Towhidul Islam, General Secretary of Rajshahi Division Journalists Association Deepak Deb, Former General Secretary Alamgir Hossain, Vice President of BSRF Mainul Hasan, General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal, Former President of Natore District Journalists Association Emdadul Haque DIU Executive Committee Member Akhtaruzzaman, E-Math Editor Kazi Khairul Bashar, Daily Chalanbil Prabhaw Editor Mahmudul Haque Khokon, President of Bangladesh Journalists Development Association Mohammad Mominur Rashid Shahin, Secretary General Muhammad Kamrul Islam, Vice President Hasan Sardar Jewel, Joint Secretary General Arfatur Rahman Apel, Thakurgaon District Journalists Association Dhaka President Delwar Hossain, Treasurer of Bangladesh Photojournalist Association Nasim Sikder, Senior Reporter of New Nation Syed Shimul Parvez, etc.

Speaking at the rally, journalist leaders said that after the corruption news was published against Banani Biswas, when the initial investigation proved his case, he was withdrawn from the post of DC of Netrokona and assigned to public administration. Later, he was assigned to the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Ministry of Public Administration is formally investigating the allegations against the official. Out of revenge for this incident, the official filed this GD with the aim of intimidating and harassing Shamsul Islam. The allegations made by Banani Biswas in the GD are completely fabricated, baseless, motivated and an interference in independent journalism. The journalist leaders also said that how can this official, an accomplice of tyranny, the 13th accused in the International Crimes Tribunal case, dare to file a GD against a journalist? Publishing news is a journalist's professional responsibility. A journalist can highlight any incident in the performance of that responsibility. His withdrawal after news broke against Banani Biswas is primary evidence of his involvement in corruption. If he is offended by his news, he can file a protest letter to the concerned newspaper and complain to the Press Council as per the rules. He has gone the opposite way instead. Journalist leaders demanded that this harassing GD be withdrawn within 48 hours and departmental action be taken against Banani. Journalists also called on the Chief Advisor, Information Advisor, Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, and Ministry of Science and Technology to take appropriate action in this regard.

On July 30, news was published in Naya Diganta about Banani Biswas' irregularities and corruption. After receiving the initial truth of the corruption irregularities, the Ministry of Public Administration withdrew him 25 days after the news was published, i.e. on August 25. After that, the Ministry of Public Administration started a formal investigation into the allegations against him.