Journo killers' trial demanded

Journalist leaders yesterday reiterated their demand for trial of the killers of journalists and stopping repression on persons working in the media.
At a meeting at the Jatiya Press Club, they criticised the government for failing to identify the killers of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, even five months into their killings, said a joint press statement of four journalists' organisations.
They also declared a human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Tuesday to press home their demands.
Moreover, they criticised the killings of journalists Zunayed of Beanibazar in Sylhet and Jamal Uddin of Jessore, and repression of three photojournalists of Prothom Alo.
Meanwhile, the journalist leaders asked all the media men, politicians, artistes, professionals, civil society representatives and businessmen not to congratulate ATN Bangla chief Mahfuzur Rahman on the channel's anniversary today.
Mahfuzur made “derogatory statements” on Sagar and Runi, they said adding that even though he claimed to have footage relating to the motive of their murders the investigators were not interrogating him effectively, the statement said.
The authorities are not heeding to the demand for Mahfuzur's arrest who they said was conspiring to destroy the ongoing movement of the journalists.
The statement was issued by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Jatiya Press Club and Dhaka Reporters Unity. Frequent incidents of repression and murder of journalists are a threat to democracy and freedom of the press, the journalist leaders observed.