Former students of different batches of Jahangirnagar University (JU) have demanded the release of Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams, also a former student of the university, arrested in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA) over one of his reports published on Independence Day.
They made the demand at a human chain and protest rally, organized under the banner of the university's former students, in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka, at 12:15pm on Saturday.
At that time, they also demanded the repeal of the Digital Security Act.
Kallol Bhowmik, a student of the 32nd batch of JU, said: "The prices of essentials are increasing every day. In such a situation, when a former student of Jahangirnagar University (Shams) acted responsibly, his voice was suppressed. He was sent to jail for performing his duties as a journalist. Today we are here to thank him [for speaking up].”
Meanwhile, leaders and activists of Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, of different hall units of Dhaka University demanded the arrest of Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman – another accused in the same case – blocking the Shahbagh intersection for about two hours on Saturday.
The Chhatra League men under the banner of “general students” blocked the area around 10:20am and continued their protest till 12:30pm.
Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams, working in Savar near the capital Dhaka, was picked up from his house in the Ambagan area near Jahangirnagar University in the early hours of Wednesday by the CID for allegedly publishing fake and fabricated news.
Later, he was sued under the DSA on the same day and a Dhaka court sent him to jail on Thursday rejecting his bail plea.
The journalist is now in Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.
