Journalists can publish reports on corruption, not bound to disclose sources: HC

The High Court in the full text of a verdict has observed that media and journalists are constitutionally and legally authorised to publish news reports on corruption including money laundering for public interest, and they are not legally bound to disclose the source of information.

Newspapers make people aware of every field in society. In the present age, corruption is present in all walks of life. Newspapers play an important role in highlighting the menace of corruption and thereby the people are made aware of the corrupt practices if any prevalent in various state-run departments, organisations and agencies and private organisations," the HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo said in the 51-page full verdict which was released today (October 23, 2022).

Earlier on June 21, the HC bench delivered a short judgement after holding a hearing on a Suo moto (voluntary) rule on this issue.

On that day, the bench rejected the prayer of the Anti-Corruption Commission for taking action against a journalist of Daily Inqilab over the publishing of a report on corruption, observing that the commission can approach Bangladesh Press Council if it has any allegation about the report and the Press Council will take necessary steps under Press Council Act, 1974.

On March 8, 2021, the HC issued the Suo moto rule, inquiring about a report published by Daily Inqilab on March 3 that year, under the headline "20 Kotite Prokousholi Ashrafuler Daaymukti! Durniti Domone 'Dudok Style'".

The report was made by Inqilab's senior journalist Sayeed Ahmed Khan about the corruption allegation against former Public Works Department engineer Ashraful Alam and his wife Sabiha Alam, and ACC exempting them from the allegation. It mentioned that Tk 20 crore was spent to get rid of the allegations.

In the full-text verdict, the HC observed that journalists act as the fourth pillar of democracy and consequently, serve the nation.

About the HC judgement, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that there might be both positive and negative impacts of the judgement.

Those who do honest and investigative journalism have got judicial recognition from this verdict and on the other hand, those who make twisted reports on rumours and do yellow journalism may take advantage of this judgement, he said.

Meanwhile, Journalist Sayeed Ahmed Khan's lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir told this correspondent that the concept of freedom of the press will be upheld and scope for investigative journalism will be widened and the journalists can enjoy the constitutional rights to freedom of the press and expressions by this HC verdict.