Withdraw indecent comments
The Editors' Council has strongly condemned the indecent language used by ruling Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman against journalists.
Urging Shamim to immediately withdraw his indecent comments, the council in a statement yesterday said no intimidation can create obstacles for newsmen pursuing journalism in a courageous and neutral manner.
“It is beyond imagination that a common citizen can make such indecent remarks, let alone a lawmaker,” read the statement signed by Golam Sarwar, president of the council.
The council, it added, believes that Shamim, having been patronised by different quarters, had become desperate in his behaviour. “With his behaviour and words, he has not only tarnished his own image, but also that parliament's.”
Mentioning the prime minister's recent lauding of the Osman family, the statement said the indecent remarks had created an embarrassing situation for the PM as well.
Talking to some newsmen in Narayanganj on Thursday, the controversial AL lawmaker said, “Journalists are dogs. In our childhood, affluent people used to keep pet dogs ... Later, people, who gained wealth, started to keep the media. These are Alsatian dogs ...”
Journalist leaders said the legislator's comments about the media and journalists are an expression of his meanness, which ultimately dents the dignity of parliament. They urged him to offer an apology and withdraw the comments immediately.
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