‘It’s a threat to free press’

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed grave concern over the summoning of journalists by a police probe committee.

The summons were issued after the media run reports based on a leaked letter the Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner wrote to the police chief with allegations of corruption against a DMP high-up.

"It's a threat to free press," said TIB in a statement asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to play a vital role in this regard.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said it is an established rule that journalists will not disclose their sources.

"Now, if journalists are summoned to disclose sources then no one will dare to reveal graft incidents in the future, which is tantamount to creating a barrier for free press," he said.

He said that keeping journalists under pressure went against public interest.

"Now, questions might arise whether a professional force like the police want to prevent organisational corruption at all," said Iftekharuzzaman, adding that TIB holds journalists as co-fighters against corruption.

He said the DMP commissioner brought allegations against a police high-up and that should be the main concern for the force. Police should prioritise the investigation over the allegation and ensure exemplary punishment of anyone found guilty.

Instead, it has become busy in finding out how the letter was leaked, which could be found through an internal probe.

This is tarnishing the image of the police force and putting their actions to question, he said.

"The way of mounting pressure on the media personnel is making common people like us panic," said the TIB executive director.

Mentioning that the police did not refute the veracity of the letter, Iftekharuzzaman said if the letter was authentic, then "one of the parties was to be blame.

"But the commissioner requested a transfer of the accused officer, which cannot be a punishment for corruption. Rather, police were trying to harass journalists," he added.

"Against this backdrop, the ACC should investigate the matter and find out who else is involved and ensure their punishment," read the statement.

On May 30, DMP Commissioner Shafiqul Islam in a letter to the inspector general of police sought the transfer of Md Imam Hossain, joint commissioner, for "offering the DMP commissioner bribe".

In his letter to the IGP, the commissioner termed the joint commissioner "a corrupt officer" and said there were various graft allegations against Imam over various purchases.

"Imam even offered the commissioner a percentage from procurement. And, that is why, he should not be working in the DMP," the DMP chief said in the letter.

Imam was later transferred.

Later, the DMP wrote to some journalists asking them to appear before an enquiry committee "enabling it to conduct a proper investigation".