Defamation Case by Lawmaker

Patuakhali journalists continue protest

7 December 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Patuakhali journalists organise a human chain in front of Patuakhali Press Club yesterday protesting filing of 'false' cases by lawmaker Golam Maola Roni against journalists of Patuakhali. Photo: STAR

Journalists here yesterday morning formed a human chain in front of Patuakhali press club protesting filing of Tk one crore defamation case by Golam Moula Roni, lawmaker from Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa and Dashmina) constituency, against the journalists of a number of dailies. Over hundred people including journalists, local elites, activists of different social and professional organisations joined in the human chain. Later, a rally held on the street, was addressed by Nirmol Kumar Rakhit, president of Patuakhali press club, Swapan Banarjee, club's vice president Abu Zafar Khan, former president of the club, advocate Habibur Rahman Shawkat, central organising secretary of JSD and MA Khaleq, president of district teachers association. The speakers said that the case filed by the lawmaker amounts to interference in the freedom of press. He could send rejoinder to the press concerned or file a complaint with the press council but he filed the case to harass the journalists, they said. They urged the prime minister to intervene for withdrawal of the case unconditionally and at the earliest. Earlier, the journalists submitted a memo to the prime minister through the DC on November 9 in this regard. The lawmaker sued 11 journos of the daily Prothom Alo, daily Jugantor, daily Samokal and the daily Manab Zamin including their editors, publishers. The case was filed with a court in Dhaka on November 3 alleging publication of defamatory reports against him.