Monir Hossain Chowdhury :
A human chain protesting the attack on journalist Mahbubur Rahman Jilani while performing his professional duties in Kaliakoir area of Gazipur has been held in Tongi.
The program was organized by the Society of National Media Commission Central Committee and local journalists at the College Gate area of Tongi at 11:30 am on Monday (May 18).
The organization’s central president A K M Azizul Haque presided over the human chain. General Secretary Kalimullah Iqbal moderated the program. Leaders of various journalist organizations, human rights activists and local dignitaries participated in it.
The speakers said that attacks on journalists while performing their professional duties are a threat to the freedom of the media. They demanded the immediate identification and arrest of those involved in the attack and exemplary punishment.
Ibrahim Khalil, Sports and Cultural Secretary of Gazipur District Journalist Oikya Parishad and Managing Editor of Bhorer Alo Newspaper, Faizul Rahman Arif, Former General Secretary of Gacha Journalist Club, Abu Raihan Khan, Organizing Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North of National Journalist Association, Gazi Mamun, President of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Association, and BM Ashiq Hasan, Secretary General of Bangladesh Sammilit Journalist Society, and many others were present at the human chain.
In addition, Senior Vice President of Society of National Media Commission Mosleh Uddin Bachchu, Joint General Secretary Awlad Hossain, Organizing Secretary Kamal Khan, Joint Organizing Secretary Mahbub Alam Jewel, Office Secretary Zahirul Islam Hamid, Finance Secretary Mamun Ahmed, Human Rights Secretary Roman Sheikh, Women’s Editor Taslima Akhter, Content Editor Azharul Islam, Literary Editor Ashraful Alam and IT Editor Ismail Hossain were present.
In his speech, AKM Azizul Haque said, “Journalists play an important role in publishing true and objective news. Therefore, the administration must take effective measures to ensure their safety.”
After the human chain, the journalists present expressed solidarity by demanding that those involved in the attack be brought to justice as soon as possible.
