Journalists demand withdrawal of case against colleague Dhruba by June 22

Journalists across the country have been asked to observe a symbolic 10-minute work hiatus on June 22 if a case filed against Golam Mujtaba Dhruba, staff reporter of an internet-only newspaper, is not withdrawn. Private channel 71 TV reporter Nadia Sharmin made the announcement on Monday before submitting a memorandum to the Information Ministry. “The symbolic work abstention will be observed from 12pm-12:10pm in front of the National Press Club,” she said. “For those who will not be able to join us there, are requested to stop working during that period at their respective workplaces,” she added. Nadia also said that Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu had assured them of finding a solution. Earlier, a protest rally was held in front of the National Press Club demanding the withdrawal of the case filed by a Manikganj judge against Dhruba under section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act for running a on June 11. According to the report a truck, parked on a street in Reserve Tank area for shifting of the judge's house, blocked the way for an ill child, who was being taken to a hospital. This led to an altercation between the family of the child and a court staffer. Later, the staffer filed a case against two people, including an uncle of the child. Two days after publishing the report, Senior Assistant Judge Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman filed the case against Dhruba with Manikganj Sadar police. Journalists have dubbed section 57 of ICT Act a tool to curb people’s rights and called for immediately scrapping the law. Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Joint secretary Amiya Ghatak Pulak, Dhaka Reporters Unity's joint secretary Tofazzal Hossain, Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh former president Isharof Hossein Issa, incumbent Secretary Sarwar Alam, former secretary Kamrujjaman, senior journalist Prabir Sikder, bdnews24.com's Special Correspondent Liton Haider, Channel 24 Senior Reporter Rashed Nizam, among others, were present at the programme.