ARTICLE 19, an international human rights organization working on freedom of expression and the right to information, has expressed concern over the government's decision to cancel the approval of the publication of the Daily Dinkal newspaper and called for a review of the decision to revoke the approval of the newspaper.
In a statement sent to the media on Sunday, ARTICLE 19 South Asia Regional Director Faruq Faisel said: "The decision to cancel the publication of the Daily Dinkal on the pretext of procedural flaws is unacceptable and undesired. Such a decision to cancel the approval of a national daily before the national election is a clear interference with the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. Due to this action of the government, the image of Bangladesh has been tarnished in the outside world.”
It is noted that through a letter sent to the office of Daily Dinkal on December 26, 2022 from the Publication Branch of the Dhaka District Commissioner Office, the permission to publish the newspaper was canceled.
Later, the authority of the Daily Dinkal filed an appeal with the Bangladesh Press Council challenging the validity of the Deputy Commissioner's decision. On February 19, the Press Council dismissed the newspaper's appeal.
Since then, both the print and online versions of the newspaper have been closed.
ARTICLE 19 called on the government to reconsider its decision to ban the publication of the Daily Dinkal and demanded that the government has the responsibility of ensuring the freedom of the press in Bangladesh.