A number of Parliament members have demanded an immediate action against the editor of The Daily Star for running "false corruption stories" based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 military-backed caretaker government.
Seven lawmakers, including five from the ruling party, came up with the call during an unscheduled discussion in the Parliament on Sunday, two days after Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy demanded arrest of Editor Mahfuz Anam through a Facebook post.
Mahfuz Anam on a TV talk show on Wednesday admitted that he made a "big mistake" by running "corruption" stories based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.
"I admit it. It was a big mistake as an editor, in my journalism career,” Anam said on the talk show.
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Joy wants editor Mahfuz Anam behind barsAwami League lawmaker Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh demanded an immediate ban on The Daily Star and action against the editor of the English daily for running false corruption stories.
Taposh told the House: “I am demanding an immediate ban on the newspaper and action against Mahfuz Anam for publishing false corruption stories based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.”
He further said The Daily Star editor had “stigmatised the noble profession of journalism by publishing such fake reports,” adding that such attempt would not be tolerated anymore.
Demanding immediate resignation of Mahfuz Anam, the lawmaker said: “He has no right to stay in the profession. He should be expelled.”
Claiming that Latifur Rahman, chairman of Transcom Group, also the publisher of the English daily, has connection with Indian separatist group Ulfa, Taposh added: “He is also a corrupt person and I am demanding quick action against them [Latifur and Mahfuz Anam.]”
Former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku said: "Legal action should be taken against Mahfuz Anam as he has already admitted his misdeeds."
MP Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon said: "Action should be taken against such planned falsehood.”
Ruling party lawmakers Waresat Hussain Belal and Nurjahan Begum also demanded immediate arrest of Mahfuz Aman adding that he has already been unmasked.
Lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal urged the editor to resign from the newspaper.
Independent lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim said: "The Daily Star along with some other newspapers has tarnished the image of the politicians by running false corruption news on them."
Earlier in February last year, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in parliament warned of stern action against The Daily Star for provoking militants through a photo published in the daily.
The daily published a poster of banned Hizb-ut Tahrir, with the caption "Fanatics raise their ugly head again" on February 11, 2015.
On February 15, 2015, a Dhaka court asked police to launch an inquiry against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and two of his colleagues.