Closure of Amar Desh protested

2 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The main opposition BNP yesterday staged countrywide demonstrations protesting cancellation of declaration of the daily Amar Desh and demanding immediate release of its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman. Pro-BNP journalist unions at a protest rally at the National Press Club in the city demanded resumption of its publication and release of the acting editor. Pro-Awami League journalist bodies also expressed concern over the declaration cancellation of the daily. Meanwhile, different political parties, professional bodies, human rights organisations strongly protested and condemned the government decision to shut down the Amar Desh, a pro-BNP Bangla newspaper. The main opposition party brought out a procession and held a brief rally in the city protesting closure of the newspaper and demanding release of Mahmudur Rahman, who was energy adviser during the past BNP-led coalition government. Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain announced the protest programme at a press briefing. He bitterly criticised the government for arresting Mahmudur Rahman, and said it wants to control the media through repression. Later, they started the procession from Bijoynagar at about 4:00pm and ended at the National Press Club. BNP standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan and Senior Joint Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among others, attended the programme. Top BNP leaders including Delwar, however, were not present in the protest programme. BNP leaders said they started their protest procession from Bijoynagar as police did not allow the opposition supporters to gather in front of the party's Nayapaltan office. Pro-BNP faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) organised a rally on the National Press Club premises in the morning. Renowned journalist Ataus Samad, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annee MP expressed their solidarity to the protestors. Many parties, professional bodies and political leaders including Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partha and Secretary General Shameem Al Mamun, BFUJ President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Secretary General Altaf Mahmud, DUJ President Shah Alamgir and General Secretary Abu Zafar Surya, National Press Club President Shaukat Mahmud and General Secretary Kamaluddin Sabuj, Ain O Salish Kendra, Dhaka Reporters Unity President Shamim Ahmed and General Secretary Pathick Saha, Chittagong University Teachers Association, Chittagong Metropolitan Union of Journalists, Democratic left alliance in separate statements expressed concern over the cancellation of declaration of the newspaper and arrest of its acting editor.