Staff Reporter :Barrister Mainul Hosein, a senior lawyer of the country, at a solidarity meeting in the city on Friday emphasized on neutral and effective role of the journalists for the sake of press freedom. “No human society can be organized without right idea so idea matters. Worshipping leaders and heroes without respecting ideals essential for democracy and the rule of law is not the way to protect democracy or the rule of law,” he said in the meeting. Diganta Television, a private TV channel which is now closed, arranged the meeting on the occasion of its seventh anniversary of launching and demanding withdrawal of ban on telecasting. President of Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf, founder of the Gonosasthya Kendro Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, columnist Farhad Mazhar, Editor of Daily Naya Diganta Alamgir Mahiuddin also spoke in the programme with Acting Executive Director of Diganta TV Mahbubul Alam Gora in the chair. Barrister Mainul Hosein said that the leaders of journalists and lawyers by choosing to be party leaders and workers, gave up the idea of journalism and lost as a force of free press and democracy. In the same way the lawyers have given up the idea of their independent role as a force of the rule of law. They cannot be followers of undemocratic leaders and remain a force as defenders of the rule of law, he added. Mentioning the role of H.S. Suhrawardy and country’s legendary journalist Manik Mia, Barrister Mainul Hosein said that Mr H.S. Suhrawardy and Manik Mia represented the idea of democracy in Awami League. But they have been discarded along with their idea of democracy. Manik Mia gave up his party membership saying as journalist he must preserve his own professional independence, he added. He said, “Those who have flouted the ideals of liberation war mostly are the ones praising the freedom fighters most vocally. Our intellectual selfishness and inconsistency is the cause of our failure.” He further said, “We are sad for closing down Diganta Television for such a long time and the suffering of journalists and others. But I know sadly our demand will have no effect. You have to gather strength as journalists by ceasing to be party followers.”The other speakers demanded the government to reopen all the closed television channels, including the Diganta TV. They said that the closure of DTV is unjust and undemocratic.Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain said that the present government has imposed ban on DTV, as it fears the freedom of press. He said that an undemocratic atmosphere now exists in the country. Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, also an adviser to BNP Chairperson, said that the democratic atmosphere would be restored in the country after the downfall of the government. He urged all to be united to wage a tougher movement against the ‘undemocratic and fascist’ government to ensure its downfall. Demanding reopening of the Diganta TV, Justice Abdur Rouf said that the present government does not believe in freedom of press. So it closed the DTV. He said that there is no rule of law in the country. A chaotic situation is prevailing in all the institutions of the country. Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury said that the Jamaat-e-Islami did wrong during the Liberation War of 1971. So, the current generation of the party are paying for the mistake of their past generation. He said that the new generation of the party have to seek apology for their past generation. Farhad Mazhar and Alamgir Mahiuddin also criticized the government for repression on freedom of press.
