Ruling Awami League lawmakers yesterday, four days after The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam conceded that the newspaper had printed unsubstantiated and military-fed news items nine years ago, demanded his arrest and banning of the newspaper.
Five AL lawmakers, one from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and an independent lawmaker joined the unscheduled discussion in the parliament, bitterly condemned Mahfuz Anam, and asked the government to prosecute the editor on sedition charges.
AL lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh initiated the discussion, saying that Anam had tried to bring unconstitutional force in the country to foil democracy.
“It cannot be tolerated anymore … sedition charge should be brought against him and he should be arrested immediately,” he said.
He also demanded resignation of Anam and demanded a ban be imposed on his newspaper The Daily Star immediately.
“Journalism is a noble profession but he (Anam) stigmatized the profession. He has no right to stay in the profession. He should be expelled from the profession,” he contended.
He also alleged that the owner of the daily, Latifur Rahman, was “a corrupt businessman,” who had a “connection with ULFA.”
“So I demand that action be taken against him,” he insisted.
Mahfuz Anam last week told TV talk show News Night Xtra that army intelligence officials had prodded the paper into publishing articles containing allegations of corruption against top politicians in 2007 and 2008, when a military-installed caretaker government ruled Bangladesh.
Former state minister for home Shamsul Haque Tuku also said that legal action should be taken against Anam.
Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon said Mahfuz Anam admitted before the nation his newspaper published untrue news.
“Action has to be taken against such planned falsehood,” he added.
AL lawmaker Waresat Hussain Belal, AL lawmaker from reserved seats for women Nurjahan Begum, JSD lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal, and independent lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim also added their voice to the chorus of condemnation against Anam and the newspaper.
