SQ Chy's suit against Daily Star, Prothom Alo editors slated
Staff Correspondent
Political parties, socio-cultural organisations and professional bodies yesterday continued their protests at a defamation suit, filed by the prime minister's parliamentary affairs adviser, against two newspaper editors. The protesters at rallies or in statements demanded withdrawal of the case against The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and Prothom Alo Editor Motiur Rahman, filed by Salauddin Qauder Chowdhury on June 11. Chowdhury charged them with publishing reports based on a 'defamatory' letter by the Awami League general secretary, which urged the prime minister to drop the adviser from the run for secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). The demonstrators also called for scrapping of Chowdhury's nomination for the OIC top office. The Kushtia Reporters Unity at a rally in front of its office said Chowdhury filed the case to harass the journalists. Journalists Sanjoy Chaki, Matiur Rahman Laltu, Tariqul Haq Tariq, Al Mamun Sagar, Rahmat Rezvi, Hasan Zahid, Hasanul Kabir and Amanur Aman addressed the rally, with SM Halimuzzaman in the chair. In Cox's Bazar, leaders and workers of Cox's Bazar Government College and town units of the Bangladesh Chhatra League staged a protest rally, chaired by BCL Sadar Upazila unit Convenor Mahmudul Karim. The Lathi-Banshi Samity in Natore condemned the suit and demanded its immediate withdrawal at a rally, with Samity President Abdus Salam in the chair. Earlier, journalists of the district held a protest rally at the local press club Saturday night, which was chaired by Manjurul Hasan. The Conscious Newspaper Readers Forum in Bhairab continued its support campaign that collected 728 signatures on the second day yesterday in favour of the demand for withdrawal of the case. Forum Member Iqbal Hussain told reporters that campaigners would go ahead with the signature campaign until the case is withdrawn. Bandhusava, a newspaper readers' forum, organised a protest meeting at the Prothom Alo office in Rangpur, with Samuel Iqbal in the chair. It was addressed by, among others, Subrata Mukharjee Bappi and Anik Rahim Ratna. Local freedom fighter leaders Rafiqul Islam and Abdus Sattar in a press statement also protested the case. Similar reports came from Keraniganj, Tongi, Netrokona, Kaptai in Rangamati, Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria, Sherpur in Bogra, Pirganj in Thakurgaon, Mathbaria in Pirojpur, Keshabpur in Jessore and Jagannathpur in Sunamganj.
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