Staff Reporter :
The Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] detained the Editor of ‘banglamail24.com’, a Dhaka-based online newspaper, and two other staffers on charges of spreading rumours.
Members of RAB raided the online portal’s office in the wee hours of Monday and picked up its acting Editor Shahadat Ullah Khan, Executive Editor Maksudul Alam and Staff Reporter Pranta Palash.
RAB also seized a computer and locked the door of the office at Scout Bhaban in the city’s Kakrail area.
According to the RAB, they were arrested for allegedly spreading rumours. “They have been brought in on allegations of spreading rumours. Whether we let them go or show them arrested will depend on information found from them,” Khandaker Golam Sarwar, Commanding Officer of RAB-3, said.
A reporter of banglamail24.com requesting not to be named said that the online media had ran a story based on a report published by an ordinary portal named ‘Todaynews71’.
It said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son had died in a plane crash. The portal also ran an Awami League leader’s comment.
It was learnt that the banglamail24.com was requested by an official of the PM’s Press Wing to withdraw the news, but the authorities decided not to do so.
Meanwhile, the government yesterday cancelled accreditation cards of nine journalists including the Editor of banglamail24.com.
In an order, the Press Information Department [PID] cancelled all the permanent and temporary accreditation cards.
Azim Group’s chairman Fazlul Azim owns the online portal. He was a former MP of Hatiya. He was expelled from BNP during 1/11. The banglanews24.com was formally inaugurated on January 26, 2013.
