In the resignation letter submitted on March 3, Maksud said immediately after taking over the charge on March 1, new Managing Director (MD) of the state-run news agency Gaziul Hasan Khan met him and asked about some 'objectionable' words written in the article and published on the same day. He said the MD told him that the meeting was arranged as per direction of 'high-ups'.

Maksud said, "After the meeting I chose between expressing my opinion freely and continuing my current job." "I have chosen the first one," he said in his letter.

He said the freedom of expression is a constitutional right to every citizen and criticism of government does not mean its opposition.

Meanwhile, a high BSS official has said it is clearly stated in the BSS service rule that no official, employee and journalist can take part in any paid or non-paid activities without prior permission of the authorities.

Besides, no-one can express his or her opinion that might go against the establishment. The official said the BSS is fully run and controlled by the government and so there is no scope to write against the establishment.

About the resignation, he said the BSS authorities have not received any resignation letter from him. "After publishing of a news item in a newspaper today (Saturday), we looked for the resignation letter, but nobody knows who received it."