Executive Magistrate (General Branch) Sabiha Sultana Dolly of the Manikganj deputy commissioner's office halted a journalist while capturing images during a mobile court operation in the district.
The incident took place at Pulse Clinical Laboratory in the Wireless Gate area of Manikganj on Sunday afternoon.
Asif Khan Monir, the Manikganj district correspondent of Jatiya Daily Jayjaydin, visited the site to cover the mobile court proceedings.
During this time, the executive magistrate rebuked journalist Monir, saying: "If you wish to take pictures, you must obtain written permission from the deputy commissioner."
Additionally, the magistrate, with the assistance of the police, seized the journalist's mobile phone and deleted the images.
Expressing his dismay, journalist Asif Khan Monir explained: "When I learned that the mobile court would be conducted at the private hospital, I contacted the relevant person, who directed me to go to Pulse Clinical Laboratory. I captured two or three images of the mobile court on my phone for news gathering purposes. When questioned by the acting executive magistrate Sabiha Sultana Dolly, I identified myself as a journalist. However, she instructed the police to seize my mobile phone and delete the images. Subsequently, the police took away my mobile phone and erased the pictures."
When asked about the rationale behind the photo ban, the executive magistrate responded: "If you want to take pictures, bring written permission from the DC."
Reporters contacted Executive Magistrate Sabiha Sultana Dolly on her mobile phone, and she remarked: "I will allow capturing images if permission is obtained from ADM or district magistrate beforehand."
In response, Civil Surgeon Moazzem Ali Khan said: "During raids, journalists are invited to be present. As I was not on-site, I am unaware of any obstruction to journalists."
Manikganj Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Rehana Akhtar commented: "There is no prohibition on journalists capturing images during mobile court operations. No permission is necessary. I am investigating the matter by reaching out to the individual who restricted journalists from taking pictures."
Upon surfacing on social media, the incident sparked widespread criticism, with many expressing disapprovals.
