It’s tantamount to assault on press freedom

One hundred and twenty eminent citizens yesterday said that the demand for cancellation of the Prothom Alo declaration is an attack on freedom of the media and journalism.

They in a joint statement condemned the move to gag the media and called for scrapping of the Digital Security Act.

"We, the citizens who believe in the freedom of the press, strongly condemn any attempt to suppress the voice of the media and call for repealing the Digital Security Act and protecting freedom of expression and ensuring freedom of the media," the statement said.

The statement goes on to highlight that the charges against Prothom Alo and its reporter Samsuzzaman Shams are still sub-judice and unproven.

No group that respects democracy, human rights, and free thought can support such an attack on the media, the statement said.

They called upon people from all professions to be vocal for ensuring freedom of the media.

The signatories are Dhaka University former teacher Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, DU Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, former DU VC Prof Anwarullah Chowdhury, senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna, activist Farida Akhter, economist Anu Muhammad, Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar, activist Khushi Kabir, TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, DU Prof Asif Nazrul, lawyer Syeda Rizwana Hasan, DU Prof Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, film director Nurul Islam Atik, JU Prof Manosh Chowdhury, researcher Saydia Gulrukh, DU teacher Moshahida Sultana, RU Prof Saleh Hasan Naqib, Brac University teacher Mahboob Hossain, JU Prof Kamrul Ahsan, JU Prof Jamal Uddin, RU Prof Iftikharul Alam Masud, CU Prof SM Nasrul Quadir, CU teacher Maidul Islam, researcher Monjure Khoda Torik, US's Framingham State University teacher Jahed Arman; lawyer Mohshin Rashid, Cumilla University teacher Mutasim Billah, poet Tokon Thaakoor, writer Chanchal Ashraf, artist Arup Rahee, politician Firoz Ahmed, director Ashfaque Nipun, director Shamol Shishir, publisher Dipankar Das, North South University teacher Saimum Parvez, fact-checker Qadaruddin Shishir, activist Kallol Mustafa, activist Parvez Alam, writer Faham Abdus Salam, politician Joly Talukdar, writer Afsana Begum, writer Zia Hasan; activist Baki Billah, writer Luna Rushdi, writer Alvi Ahmed, ALRD Executive Director Shamsul Huda, writer Umme Farhana, women rights activist Mahfuza Mala, journalist Bithy Soptorshi, writer Hamim Kamrul Haque, poet Salehin Shipra, senior journalist Masood Kamal, translator GH Habib, director, Narigrantha Prabartana Sayyida Akhter, film director Prosun Rahman, poet Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, columnist Dhrubo Sadiq, JU teacher Snigdha Rezwana, JnU teacher Fatama Sultana Suvra, poet Muiz Mahfuz, writer Gazi Tanzia, writer Papri Rahman, singer Amal Akash, writer Mahbub Morshed, writer Salah Uddin Shuvro, publisher Mahbub Rahman, writer Ahsan Mahmud, artist Krishnokoli Islam, painter AH Chanchal, Supreme Court lawyers Barrister Jishan Mohsin, Nur Arshad Siddique, Tajul Islam and Barrister Zubair Ahmed Bhuiyan; lawyer Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, former National Press Club president Kamal Uddin Sabuj, writer Syed Abdal Ahmed, former National Press Club general secretary Elias Khan, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists  President M Abdullah, Dhaka Union of Journalists General Secretary Shahidul Islam, organiser Zafor Sadiq, human rights researcher Rozyna Begum, expert on Democratic Governance, Human Rights & Geopolitics in the South Asia region Sultan Mohammed Zakaria, Barrister Aneek R Haque, human rights activist Rezaur Rahman Lenin, writer Dilshana Parul, organiser Ariful Islam Adib, Peshajibi Adhikar Parishad Convener Zafor Mahmud, women's organiser Nasreen Sultana Mily, activist Nusrat jahan, engineer Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, writer Maruf Mallick, Poet Shawkat Hossain, columnist Arshad Siddiqui, writer Rabiul Karim Mridul, writer Zakaria Polash, writer Shohel Rana, poet Shimul Salahuddin, activist Tuhin Khan, writer Ferdous Ara Rumi, poet Mahbub Aziz, journalist Faruk Wasif, former diplomat Saquib Ali, activist Sahul Ahmed, film maker Zayed Siddiki, researcher ATM Golam Kibria, writer Rakhal Raha, writer Tonmoy Imran, prose writer Wasi Ahmed, film maker Khandaker Sumon, DU teacher Mohammad Azam, lawyer Nabayon Ahmed, poet Razu Alauddin, actress Bonna Mirza, former BFJU secretary general MA Aziz, Prof Khaliquzzaman Ellias, poet Ranak Zaman, poet Bayazid Bastami, writer Helal Mohiuddin and translator Raushan Jamil.