BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said “heinous activities for repressing an opposition party” and its opinion were not a good sign for democracy.
Condemning the arrest of three journalists of the daily Inqilab and sealing off of its printing press following a “fabricated report” published in the newspaper, the former premier said: “Freedom of expression and freedom of press are democratic rights in a democratic society.”
In a press release, Khaleda demanded the release of all detained journalists including those from the daily Inqilab. She also demanded that all the closed media outlets be reopened.
She said: “People’s rights are being snatched during the ruling government’s regime in a fascist way.”
Detectives on Thursday arrested Ahmmed Atiq, chief reporter of Inqilab, Rabiulla Ulla Robi, a news editor and Rafiq Mohammad, its deputy chief reporter. A case was filed against publisher, editor, chief news editor and a reporter under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006 with Wari police.
Reporter Atiq was arrested for the making of the news that claims the presence of Indian army personnel in Bangladesh territory while Robi and Rafiq for helping in the making, said police.
The government previously shut down Bangla newspaper the daily Amar Desh and detained its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman. It also closed private television channels Diganta Television, Islamic TV and Channel 1.
According to the government, Mahmudur was arrested on the specific allegations of lying, hacking and instigating religious fanaticism while Diganta Television and Islamic TV were shut down for broadcasting misleading information and news.