Withdraw order to cancel declaration of Amar Desh

A group of journalists and professionals observed a token hunger strike on the National Press Club premises in the city yesterday demanding withdrawal of a government order cancelling the declaration of the daily Amar Desh and release of its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and the Dhaka Union of Journalists organised the six-hour demonstration at 10:00am, says a press release.
Speaking at the programme, the protesters said that the government, by cancelling the declaration of the newspaper, has proved that it does not believe in freedom of the press and democracy.
Journalists Shafiq Rehman, Ataus Samad, Shawkat Mahmud, Kamal Uddin Sabuj, Abdus Shahid, Muhammad Baker Hossain, Elahi Newaz Khan Saju, among others, spoke at the programme, presided over by Ruhul Amin Gazi.
BNP leaders Nazrul Islam Khan, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Aman Ullah Aman, General Secretary of Dhaka University Teachers' Association Dr ABM Obaidul Islam expressed solidarity with the journalists and other professionals.