The Kurigram Journalists Union (KGUJ) has formed a human chain demanding the withdrawal of false and harassing cases filed against M. Hasan, the district correspondent of Amar Desh Patrika in Cumilla, and Khorshed Alam Sagar, the district correspondent of Ajker Patrika in Lalmonirhat. The human chain was held at the College intersection in Kurigram district town on Tuesday (September 16) afternoon under the leadership of KGUJ member secretary Monowar Hossain. Civil society members including the district and upazila participated in it. Rashidul Islam, the joint convener of KGUJ and the district Correspondent of Pratidin Bangladesh, said in the human chain, ‘The case filed against M. Hasan, the district Correspondent of Amar Desh Patrika in Cumilla, and Khorshed Alam Sagar, the district correspondent of Ajker Patrika in Lalmonirhat, is completely false and motivated. We strongly condemn and protest against it. Such harassing cases were filed during the previous government’s tenure as well, but they could not hold the journalists accountable. We have even been killed during the tenure of this interim government while trying to reveal the truth.
We want fair and just trial of these murder cases. We also want these false cases to be withdrawn.’ In a brief speech, the joint convener of KGUJ, Abdullah Al Mujahid, district Correspondent of Independent and Amara Desh newspapers, said, ‘The trend of harassing journalists has not stopped yet. They are sometimes attacking and sometimes harassing us by filing cases. The recent case filed against journalists M. Hasan and Khorshed Alam Sagar is false and baseless. We will appeal to the government to immediately withdraw this false case against them.’ In his closing speech, KGUJ member secretary, district Correspondent of Daily Janakantha and ATN News, Monowar Hossain Liton said, ‘False cases are being filed against journalists all the time. And most of these false cases are filed by leaders and activists of a party. The false and harassing case filed against journalists M. Hasan and Khorshed Alam Sagar was also filed by activists of a party. Those who have not yet sat in the seat of power. That means that even if they come to power in the near future, they will also harass journalists.’ He also said, ‘We did not want this in Bangladesh after 24. Where journalists will be silenced, tortured, and their throats will be slit. We want the right of journalists to express the truth.’ Among others present at the human chain were – Kaler Kantho’s Uttaranchal Correspondent Tamjid Hasan Turag, Global Television’s district Correspondent Rasheduzzaman Towhid, Star News’ district Correspondent Zubair Islam, Pratidin Sangbad’s district Correspondent Raju Ahmed, Daily Kalbela’s Chilmari Correspondent Abu Al Rafiul Rafi, Daily Inquilab’s Chilmari Correspondent Faisal Haque, Daily Amar Sangbad’s Rajarhat Correspondent Enamul Haque Sarkar, Daily Deshre Kanth’s Rajarhat Correspondent Hamidul Islam, among others.