PCI strongly condemned the violence, repression and harrasment of journalists in Bangladesh and demands impartial probe.
The largest organisation of journalists in India based in New Delhi Press Club of India has taken an extremely serious view of the ongoing repression, violence, detention and victimisation of journalists in Bangladesh and condemned it in strongest possible terms demanding free, impartial and speedy investigations into these incidents.
In a strongly worded statement, the president of Press Club of India Sangeeta Barooah Pishroty and secretary general Afzal Imam expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the violent attacks, vandalism and arson at the offices of daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as the harassment of the President of the Editors’ Council and Editor of New Age, veteran journalist Nurul Kabir.
Accusing the current ruling political dispensation in Bangladesh for being cruel and biased against the journalists in Bangladesh the press release of PCI said :
We find that after taking over by the Interim Government in Bangladesh, more than 100 journalists have been arrested on murder charges. They are behind bars without trial. We demand immediate release of those journalists.
The PCI statement further said that Independent and responsible journalism is one of the main foundations of a democratic state. Violence, intimidation, attacks or harassment aimed at silencing the media are in no way acceptable. Such actions are completely contrary to media freedom, the constitutional right to freedom of expression, and the rule of law said President Pishroty and secretary general Imam in the statement.
The PCI demanded that the perpetrators be identified and brought to justice through a fair, impartial and speedy investigation into these incidents forthwith.
