Journalist of a leading newspaper of Bangladesh has been sent to jail for publishing false news. The journalist had reported about the increased food prices in the country which later went viral.
The court has rejected the bail application of Prothom Aalo newspaper journalist Samsuzzaman Shams. He appeared in court a day after his arrest.
His news report was published on the Independence Day of the country i.e. 26 March. He is accused of allegedly defaming the government. Human rights activists have condemned the arrest and accused the government of stifling press freedom.
The government has denied the allegation, but media rights groups have said there has been a steady decline in press freedom since the Awami League came to power in 2009. They have also warned the government regarding this.
Reporters Without Borders placed Bangladesh below Russia and Afghanistan among 180 countries in last year’s World Press Freedom Index. Bangladesh was at number 162 in the list.
The journalist was picked up by plain clothes officers from his home outside Dhaka. After lifting, the newspaper did not know for about 30 hours that where is their journalist? Because the police and security agencies said that they also have no information about it.
The paper’s executive editor, Sajjad Sharif, told, “we stand by the original report. The statement about the cost of food was true and genuine.”
But supporters of Bangladesh’s ruling party Awami League are accusing the newspaper of tarnishing the country’s image.
Police has also started investigation against the editor of the newspaper, Matiur Rahman. Apart from this, investigation is also going on against a video journalist of the newspaper and many others under the country’s controversial Digital Security Act.
