Rejoinder, our reply

The Jamaat-e-Islami Sunday sent a rejoinder, undersigned by Md Ibrahim of the party's Central Publicity Department, to protest our report on February 23. We are publishing the unedited version of the rejoinder along with our reply:
In your print edition dated 23rd February 2013 you published the report titled “Jamaat, allies strike terror” saying Jamaat carried out the protest on 22 February. The country wide protest was called and organized by 12 likeminded Islamic Organizations. Jamaat did not call the protest nor did Jamaat organise it. But the Daily Star reported, without taking the trouble of citing a single source, that the country wide protest was in fact organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami.
The report claims that Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami “attacked law enforcers and journalists, burned the national flag and vandalised Shaheed Minars to counter the mass demand for capital punishment to 1971 war criminals.” The reporter(s) failed to appreciate their obligations and duties as journalists to back up this claim with evidence.
The report further states that “Jamaat and its student body Islami Chhatra Shibir carried out the attacks under the banner of 12 Islamist parties.” If Bangladesh Jamaat-E-Islami did not call for this protest, which it did not, then it is reasonable to ask why a reputed newspaper like the Daily Star should report that Jamaat and Shibir carried out the protest without even attempting to demonstrate why it believes that to be the case.
The news article went onto accuse Jamaat throughout the whole report. “Jamaat activists took position inside the Baitul Mukarram…”, “Jamaat and like-minded parties snatched the microphone…”, “Jamaat activists beat up camerapersons…”. However no evidence was referred to in the report to substantiate such statements.
Not only Jamaat was NOT involved in these activities but we strongly condemn the reprehensible attacks on Shaheed Minars, burning the national flag, and the shameful attacks on the journalists.
The ethics of journalism dictates that when an event is reported it is supported by verifiable references. It appears to us that the reporters of your newspaper have forgotten the distinction between neutrally reporting an event and spreading someone's own prejudiced views. In a critical time like this a vastly circulated newspaper like the Daily Star has to decide if it will take side or it will staunchly hold onto journalistic ethics. If it decides the latter then it should report events as they are and trust the people to make up their own minds.
OUR REPLY
We do appreciate Jamaat for condemning, though belatedly, the attacks on Shaheed Minars, national flags and journalists.
The shocking events of February 22 (published on February 23) did not happen all of a sudden. Rather, it was the culmination of a cleverly orchestrated smear campaign with fictitious allegations against Shahbagh youths. In our lead story on February 20 (Out with a new trick? Youths, law-enforcers find Jamaat turning religious sentiment against Shahbagh demonstration), we exposed a plot that aimed to neutralise the Shahbagh movement by branding its organisers as atheists and anti-Islamic. We followed it up for two consecutive days on February 21 (Target Friday: Govt takes steps to thwart Jamaat's bid for anarchy) and on February 22 (Prayers, no propaganda: Govt moves not to let any radical groups exploit religion). In our stories, we duly substantiated the covert link of Jamaat with attributions from intelligence, police and other sources. No rejoinder was sent in to contradict those reports.
We deployed half a dozen reporters in the capital alone to cover the February 22 events, and our report was based mostly on their findings from the spots.
A number of agitators admitted to our reporters on condition of anonymity that they were Islami Chhatra Shibir men.
A number of leaders involved in Friday movement also told The Daily Star that Jamaat was backing some religious parties that are component in the recently formed eight Islamic parties as well as component in the BNP-led 18-party alliance in which Jamaat is a key partner.
On the same day, the deputy commissioner of Motijheel division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police categorically said that Jamaat-Shibir men disguised as members of Islamist parties took part in the Friday anarchy in front of the Baitul Mukarram mosque.
The cases filed by the police for the violence also accused several top leaders of city and central Jamaat.
We, however, stand corrected for not mentioning the sources who claimed Jamaat orchestrated the attacks.
We thank Jamaat for reminding us about the ethics of journalism, which we assure it that we will continue to maintain. But we want to clearly state that we stand by our report.