The Editors' Council has strongly condemned the jailing of a journalist in Sherpur who was merely seeking information, expressing dismay over the escalating trend of such incidents targeting media professionals, which it fears is constricting the realm of free and independent journalism.
In a statement on Monday, the council highlighted the case of Shafiuzzaman Rana, the correspondent for the Bangla daily Desh Rupantor in Nakla upazila of Sherpur, who had filed a request at the local upazila nirbahi officer’s (UNO) office for information regarding the procurement of computers and laptops under the Annual Development Program (ADP).
As he pressed ahead with his query, the UNO set up a mobile court on March 5 and gave him a six-month jail sentence. According to the statement, the submission of documents for his bail was deliberately delayed, prolonging the process.
"The tendency of government officials to flaunt their power has been manifested through sending a journalist to jail by setting up a mobile court. The process of getting bail is being deliberately prolonged, though it is a fundamental legal right," reads the statement issued by Editors' Council President Mahfuz Anam and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud on behalf of the body.
The council raised concerns about some inherent flaws in mobile court proceedings, which deprived the accused of a fair opportunity to defend themselves and often led to unwarranted imprisonment based on unilateral interrogation by executive magistrates.
Calling for an immediate cessation of using mobile court laws against media personnel to safeguard freedom of speech and press, the council demanded accountability for those who had abused such laws for personal vendettas.
The Editors' Council expressed its hope that the Information Commission, which had visited Sherpur, would uncover the truth surrounding the incident.