Black Day for newspapers observed
Staff Reporter
'Black Day for Newspapers' was observed yesterday across the country with a strong demand of stopping torture on journalists, aggression on press and reopening of Channel 1, Jamuna TV and Amar Desh.
Different social, cultural, political and journalists' organisations arranged various programmes marking the day.
On June 16, 1975, the then Awami League government had closed all newspapers except four under government control.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised a discussion on "June 16 Black Day for Newspapers" at the national press club.
Presided over by BFUJ president Ruhul Amin Gazi the discussion was moderated by DUJ secretary Muhammad Baker Hossain and addressed, among others, by BNP senior joint secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, opposition chief whip Zainul Abedin Farooq, Barrister Nasir Uddin Washim, press club's president Shauwkat Mahmud and its secretary Kamal Uddin Sabuj, BFUJ secretary general MA Aziz, DUJ president Abdus Shahid, Poet Zahangir Firoz, Quader Gani Chowdhury, Basir Jamal, Amirul Islam Kagaji, Zahangir Alam Prodhan, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, and Chhatra Dal president Salahuddin Tuku.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said that Awami League and democracy never go together.
Addressing the discussion as the chief guest he said that in 1975, the then AL government had closed all but four newspapers by enacting an act in the parliament and in 2010, the party is doing the same thing illegally.
Mirza Fakhrul demanded immediate release of Amar Desh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman and withdrawal of the daily's closure.
Zainul Abedin Farooq said that the government is acting as fascist in the name of democracy.
Shauwkat Mahmud said that the journalists' movement might turn into the anti-government movement if it does not stop its fascist aggression on the media.
He strongly criticised torture on Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman making him undressed on police remand.
Nasir Uddin Washim alleged that the AL government has established 'undeclared BAKSAL rule' in the country after coming to power through a questioned election.
He apprehended of losing of the country's independence if freedom of the press is curbed in such a manner and consequently democracy is destroyed.
The speakers alleged that the student leaders of the party are compelling the female students to do immoral activities.
"AL by-born cannot tolerate others' opinion. The party leaders and activists are busy in changing their fates in the name of changing day," added the speakers.
Meanwhile, a discussion meeting was arranged by Aggression Resistance National Committee at the Monthly Madina auditorium in the city marking the day with its chairman Maulana Mahiuddin Khan in the chair.
The speakers at the meeting said torture on journalists and shutting down press were barriers towards establishing democracy. If such activities are being continued, then democratic society never established in the country. So, the government had to refrain form such undemocratic works in the interest of democracy.
The function was addressed, among others, by the committee's member secretary Alamgir Majumder, Muslim League vice president Nurul Haque and general secretary Quazi Abul Khair and Islamic Party president Adv Abdul Mubin.
Bangladesh Labour Party organised a roundtable at the National Press Club to mark the Black Day with its chairman Shamsul Huda Mamun in the chair.
BNP standing committee member MK Anowar, MP was the chief guest at the function, which was addressed, among others, by BNP senior joint general secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, assistant secretary of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Abdul Kader Mollah, Press Club president Shawkat Mahmud, NPP chairman Sheikh Shawkat Hossain Nilu, Barrister Haider Ali, general secretary of Islami Oikkya Jote Maulana Abdul Latif Nejami, general secretary of Bangaldesh Jatiya Party Abu Naser Rahmatullah, BNP central leader Khaleda Yeasmin and NAP general secretary M Gulam Mostafa Bhuyian.
MK Anwar, the former minister, said the government will have to face the dire consequences if the CCC mayoral election is held in unfair manner and vote rigging takes place like that of the Bhola-3 by-polls.
Bangladesh National Awami Party (Bhasani) organised a discussion at its central office in the city with its Dhaka city secretary Tofazzal Hossain in the chair.
The party's president Anwarul Haque was the chief guest at the function which was addressed, among others, by its senior vice president Altaf Hossain Munna, Tazul Islam Master, Adv Hafizur Rahman Khan, Chhatra Union president Mamunur Rahman Mamun and Mahinur Akter Chinu.
Terming newspapers as the spokesman of independence and the state's unity, Anwarul Haque criticised the government for curbing freedom of the press whenever it came to power.
He demanded immediate release of Amar Desh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman and stopping torture on journalists.
A discussion was also arranged by National Democratic Party (NDP) at its central office in the city yesterday to the mark the Black Day for newspapers.
Presided over by its chairman Khandoker Golam Mortaza, the function was addressed, among others, by NDP secretary general Alamgir Majumder, presidium member Maulana Zainul Islam and Kazi Jamal Hossain.
Golam Mortaza said the government is torturing journalists and curbing the press aiming at establishing BKSAL rule in the country like that of 1975.
Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA) yesterday formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club marking the day and demanded unconditional release of Mahmudur Rahman.
JGPA president Shafiul Alam Prodhan also demanded reopening of Channel 1, Jamuna TV and Amar Desh.
Islami Oikya Jote chairman Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini at a meeting at its central office in the city said that AL had closed newspapers except four in this month in 1975 and again in this month of 2010 it is attacking the press.
Dire consequences were waiting for the party if it does not stop its undemocratic activities, he said.
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