The Editors' Council has called for restraint and mutual respect in expressing differences of opinion after Prime Minister's Political Assistant Rashed Khan was seen tearing up a copy of the daily newspaper Amar Desh in a video posted on his Facebook page on Saturday.
In a statement signed by Editors' Council President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the council said disagreeing with news reports or editorial opinions was a democratic right.
However, it stressed the importance of maintaining responsibility, decency and mutual respect when expressing differences of opinion.
The council said that as the prime minister's political assistant and a person holding the rank of secretary, Rashed Khan was expected to demonstrate restraint and responsibility in his statements and conduct.
It also emphasized the importance of maintaining professional standards, objectivity, ethics and accountability in journalism.
The Editors' Council called on all concerned to refrain from provocative statements, threats and harassment, and to uphold media freedom and the safety of journalists.