The Editors' Council (Sampadak Parishad) has raised concerns that blanket cases filed against journalists undermine the government's commitment to independent journalism.
"The filing of cases based on baseless allegations amounts to a misuse of the law. It violates the interim government's pledge to uphold press freedom,” said council's President Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star, and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Editor of Bonik Barta, in a statement on Saturday.
They also condemned unethical and sycophantic journalism, urging for professionalism in the media.
The council suggested forming a committee within the Press Council to investigate journalists who may have supported oppressive actions under the previous government. If found guilty, these journalists could face penalties under the Press Council Act. For other offenses, they could be tried under existing laws as recommended by the Press Council.
The statement further highlighted that during the previous government, laws such as the Digital Security Act (DSA) and Cyber Security Act (CSA), along with the harassment of journalists through arbitrary arrests, were widely condemned on the global stage. The current trend of filing murder cases against journalists, the council noted, is similarly damaging the interim government's international reputation.
The Editors' Council urged the authorities to thoroughly investigate the allegations against journalists. If no involvement is found, they called for the immediate dismissal of the charges.
