Staff Reporter :
The leaders of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Sunday demanded repeal of the Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act immediately.
Terming the section as a “black law”, they said, the
particular provision is a machinery to oppress journalists and urged the government to scrap it.
They came up with the call at a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club demanding scrapping of Section 57, torture and harassment on journalists and reopening of the media shut down by incumbent government.
The journalist leaders threatened of tougher movement in case of the government’s failure to take step.
They also demanded immediate implementation of the Ninth Wage Board. BFUJ President Shawkat Mahmud presided over the rally, while daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman was present as the chief guest.
Former President of BFUJ Ruhul Amin Gazi, Former General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Abdal Ahmed and Joint-Secretary Quader Gani Chowdhury, BFUJ Secretary General M Abdullah, DUJ President Kabi Abdul Hai Sikder and General Secretary Jahangir Alam Prodhan spoke at the rally, among others.
Shawkat Mahmud said the Law Minister should take a bill in the Parliament in this regard and demanded assurance from the govtment that no more case is lodged under this section.
“We will continue our protest as long as the section is not scrapped,” he said. Ruhul Amin Gazi said, “We wanted freedom of the press, but it has faded away due to the said section. No journalist can accept that.”
He also demanded stoppage of harassing journalists across the country.
The leaders of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Sunday demanded repeal of the Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act immediately.
Terming the section as a “black law”, they said, the
particular provision is a machinery to oppress journalists and urged the government to scrap it.
They came up with the call at a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club demanding scrapping of Section 57, torture and harassment on journalists and reopening of the media shut down by incumbent government.
The journalist leaders threatened of tougher movement in case of the government’s failure to take step.
They also demanded immediate implementation of the Ninth Wage Board. BFUJ President Shawkat Mahmud presided over the rally, while daily Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman was present as the chief guest.
Former President of BFUJ Ruhul Amin Gazi, Former General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Abdal Ahmed and Joint-Secretary Quader Gani Chowdhury, BFUJ Secretary General M Abdullah, DUJ President Kabi Abdul Hai Sikder and General Secretary Jahangir Alam Prodhan spoke at the rally, among others.
Shawkat Mahmud said the Law Minister should take a bill in the Parliament in this regard and demanded assurance from the govtment that no more case is lodged under this section.
“We will continue our protest as long as the section is not scrapped,” he said. Ruhul Amin Gazi said, “We wanted freedom of the press, but it has faded away due to the said section. No journalist can accept that.”
He also demanded stoppage of harassing journalists across the country.
