Editors' Council has strongly condemned, declaring three journalists, including the editors of two national dailies, unwanted at the Central Shaheed Minar premises by some student and cultural organisations. The editors of the leading national newspapers of the country came up with the condemnation during a meeting of the platform at The Daily Star centre on Thursday. A press release, signed by Golam Sarwar, president of Editors' Council, has also been issued over the issue. According to the press note, the council members have expressed grave concern over the announcement by some organisations that they would not allow three journalists, including the Editor of Daily Manabzamin, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, and the Editor of New Age, Nurul Kabir, at the Shaheed Minar premises. The platform of the editors condemned “such declaration,” saying that “any attempt to obstruct freedom of expression is an obstacle to democratic practice,” stated the press release. “The journalists express their opinions in television talk shows independently and with responsibility.” The editors also expressed hope that such move would not be taken in future, it added. The condemnation made following the declaration of some student and cultural organisations that they would not allow nine citizens, including three journalists at Shaheed Minar. The nine citizens are Columnist Farhad Mazhar, daily Manabzamin editor Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, Columnist Mahfuzullah, new age editor Nurul Kabir, DU teachers Asif Nazrul and Amena Mohsin, lawyer Tuhin Malik, journalist Golam Mortuza and Brac University teacher Dilara Chowdhury.
The platforms of the cultural activists alleged that these nine personalities have circulated "anti-Independence ideology" through their columns and television talk shows.