Editors urge Ulema to consider Prothom Alo's apology

Editors of different newspapers yesterday jointly urged the country's Alem community to consider Prothom Alo's apology and the actions the government and the daily have taken following publication of an unacceptable cartoon in the daily's satire magazine Aalpin.
In a joint statement they also urged everyone to exercise restraint and show sense of responsibility.
The country's Muslims have been venting their grievances since the publication of the cartoon that hurt their religious sentiment.
Golam Sarwar, editor of the daily Jugantor, read out the statement to journalists at the secretariat after a meeting with Information Adviser Mainul Hosein.
The statement said, "The publication of the cartoon feature was an unfortunate event. Naturally it hurt the pious Muslim community."
It said the Prothom Alo authorities have already apologised for the inadvertent publication of the cartoon feature and withdrawn it immediately. They also dismissed an Aalpin sub-editor and announced that they will no longer publish any write-up or cartoon of the contributor cartoonist concerned.
The government has also taken action regarding the incident. Law enforcers have arrested cartoonist Arifur Rahman and seized all copies of the Aalpin's 431st issue containing the cartoon.
"We believe the Prothom Alo is respectful towards Islam and religious sentiment," the statement said.
"We believe following Prothom Alo's admission of the mistake and seeking apology and the government steps, all sections concerned including the religious minded Muslims will be pacified," the statement added. "We urge all concerned to be patient and tolerant."
The signatory editors said they hope that the Prothom Alo will be extremely cautious so that similar incident never occurs.
Apart from Golam Sarwar, Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, Sangbad Editor Bazlur Rahman, Ittefaq Editor Rahat Khan, Ataus Samad of Amar Desh, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Samakal Editor Abed Khan, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kabir, Amader Shomoy Editor Naimul Islam Khan, Manabjamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and Naya Diganta Mohammad Alamgir Mohiuddin signed the statement.