C T Online Desk: By Moinuddin Quadery Showkat- Last August 5, 2024 AD. What is happening with Chittagong Press Club is unexpected and sad. I think both sides are hindered from reaching a consensus without going in the right direction. There are some on both sides who are not allowing the two committees of the press club (the committee elected in the elections held on December 30, 2022 and the interim committee formed after the fall of the dictatorial government on August 6, 2024) and the agitators to sit together and resolve the issue, but rather incite further distance between the conflict. to give And there are others who remain silent in this situation despite the opportunity to play a role. It has been said about such people ‘those who consider silence to be a sign of intelligence without taking part in speaking the right and truth in a crisis are dumb devils’.
It is known that the Honorable Chief Advisor is aware of the formation of Interim Committee of Chittagong Press Club. As I have said before, journalism is a noble profession, an honest profession. Those who stick to this profession with honesty are saints, they are beloved servants of Allah. Although no one can punish those who oppress honest journalists in various ways, Allah will punish these oppressors in the most severe way. Be careful, dear servants of Allah, no one will oppress honest journalists.
There are many who want to vent their personal anger at the changing circumstances of the country. Some may have angered by jealousy, violence, competition or other reasons while performing professional duties. Don’t drag this personal or political grudge into a press club issue. In principle, you can definitely keep your head up from your own position. But remember the persecution by autocracy-brokered journalists-editors – just to learn.
Journalism career begins with risk. Ignoring the threats and the bloodshot eyes of the oppressors, journalists vowed to find the truth. Journalists used to maintain professional integrity and dignity even in the face of unlimited adversities. Journalists collected direct information of the incident by standing in the death pit. So this profession is deadly. One has to overcome injuries and obstacles to advance in this profession. But if this injury and hindrance comes from the state power, then the journalists become devastated. Journalism is an endangered profession. The fearless government-administration was burning with vengeance and anger against honest and fearless journalists for various reasons. The fascist government wanted a famous journalist. A slave journalist without human qualities. At various times, the government, administration and authoritarian groups have tried to eliminate the journalists of Courage. The establishment has always been disrespectful of dissent, intolerant of criticism, and a believer in absolute supremacy of power.
There are many of our journalists who have become arrogant and luxurious because of their wealth. They don’t want to take anyone’s opinion, advice – want to impose their unreasonable, illegal opinion on others. They don’t want to understand that the head of government had to resign and leave the country because of arrogance. Many lives and property have been damaged – no more, stop now.
One thing I would like to say for our journalistic community is that: As journalists, it is very important for us to study, meditate and meditate on the law. It will have the right knowledge and understanding to exercise our own rights while not harming the rights of others. We must have the firm belief that our own right to freedom and the right to freedom of others are on the same principle consistent, compatible.
Since last few days, some permanent members of Chittagong Press Club have been calling senior journalist friends to give their opinion about opening the press club. I always want to keep the press club open. I was the last person to leave the press club prayer hall on 5th August after praying Asr. I wanted to come home after Zohar prayer at noon. Beloved Swapan Mallick, former chairman of the housing society, then said, “Heard that the army chief had announced that he would deliver a speech at 2 p.m. At 2 o’clock he announced that the army chief would speak at 3 o’clock instead of 2 o’clock. What happened next was seen by everyone on television. Before leaving in the afternoon, when I was praying Asr in the synagogue, the press club staff hurriedly turned off all the lights. When the press club employee asked Zaheer and other employees present when he returned the salutation, they said ‘Sir the press club has been attacked. You leave early. Everyone’s gone’. I came down from the 5th floor prayer hall and saw all the lights off. The stairs are dark. When Zaheer grabbed me and brought me down, I saw the loving journalist Saiful Islam Shilpi standing at the gate. I asked him what happened? He said he was guarding the press club for fear of attack. I came out through the gate and asked the Shilpi to guard well so that no one could harm the press club. She said ok. A lot of things happened in the next few days. The army came and took the keys and later the committee brought the keys. Again the incident happened, again the key was taken. Some say the army, some say the students, the leaders have taken the key. The press club has since been closed. In fact, who has the key to the press club? Rumor has it that the keys to the club are held by the club’s former committee. Open the press club and bring back the peaceful environment. For the sake of Allah, don’t trouble journalists and members anymore. All the senior members who have contacted me have spoken and spoken clearly that their hearts have cursed their souls. All must be saved from the curse of these naive, old, helpless journalists.
Not all problems can be solved in a day or overnight. Let’s all members and non-members of Chittagong Press Club, all journalists of Chittagongunite. Find out the right way to solve. May Allah give everyone the right understanding.
Every member has a responsibility to protect the Press Club. Seniors cannot back down from the responsibility of protecting the press club. At the same time action should be taken against all officials and members against whom there are allegations of oppression and corruption. Due to the environment, situation and flow of events, it has to be said that now the news and media and a large part of the journalists have started to change the bowl, change the color. supported Hasina’s rule until Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on 5 August; Some journalist has advised the law and order forces to be strict in the movement of students. Many journalists in our Chittagong have also done it with status on Facebook. And many have it’s screenshot as well. The kind of editors-journalists who have encouraged the police force to turn into monsters are now changing the bowl, changing the color. In September 2023, Dr. Muhammad Yunus The Nobel laureate had written an open letter to Sheikh Hasina, urging her not to persecute Muhammad Yunus, and 50 editors, demanding interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs, had circulated a protest statement in the media. In return to the Hon’ble Chief Counsel we are desperate to prove your people. Dr. The previous government of Hasina did not torture Yunus! Every citizen has the right to the protection of law. It is a constitutional right. Dr. Yunus was deprived from this right. He went to the High Court to appeal. By dismissing his writ before the hearing, he was deprived of his right to legal recourse – unfairly. However, according to Article 31 of the Constitution, the right to seek legal recourse is guaranteed according to Article 44. Did Yunus get that constitutional right? According to Article 94 (4) of the Constitution, the judges are said to be independent in the administration of justice, but were the judges independent during Sheikh Hasina’s regime? According to Article 25 (c) of our country’s constitution, Bangladesh is committed to support the struggle of the oppressed people all over the world. If a citizen of our country and a world-class person is oppressed, and because of that, if the world leaders and Nobel laureates say something or make a statement, they do not correct themselves and protest against it, taking a stand in favor of the oppression of Sheikh Hasina government. Was it fair for the editors to support the persecution of Yunus? A case has been filed against 29 journalists in Dhaka and 28 journalists in Chittagong. It is said that this case has been accused of inciting the killing of students. Due to the filing of the case, some organizations have condemned and expressed concern. I hope the current interim government does not do anything unreasonably bad on the media and journalists.
Furthermore, it has to be said that after Amar Desh Patrika’s Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman was bloodied in Kushtia court premises on July 23, 2018, there was no concern or condemnation from any editor or journalist organization. On November 4, 2018, barrister Moinul Hossain, the former president of Dainik Ittefak editorial board, was arrested in Rangpur court premises but did not shake the conscience of our editors-journalists and organization officials. Then they were busy competing for Sheikh Hasina’s compliments and bows – abandoning journalistic ethics.
Barrister Moinul Hossain was arrested and harassed and tortured by the Sheikh Hasina government at the end of 2018. At that time no association of press club, journalists union, editors could be found to give a statement demanding his release. CMUJ’s then general secretary, current president Affectionate Mohammad Shahnawaz agreed to talk about this at the Chittagong Press Club, but due to organizational constraints, they could not make a statement. Since I was a member of Bangladesh Press Council, Press Council Judicial Committee along with Barrister Moinul Hussain, in BSP he was President and I was Vice President. Even in that scary situation, I thought it was my moral duty to demand the release of Barrister Mainul Hossain. Then I made a statement. It was published in Daily Inqilab, Daily Nayadiganta, NewNation and Daily Azadi of Chittagong. Paper cutting is attached in comment box. After the publication of that statement, many storms blew over me. I didn’t say anything to anyone. Only when the agency person asked, I said ‘Inform the Prime Minister about the content of my statement. He does something when he says it’. A few fellow journalist brothers wanted to scare me. I said, death will happen one day. I was on the side of the oppressed, I am, inshallah I will be. Last December 24, 2023, when I was invited to speak at a function organized at the Chittagong Press Club on the 71st founding anniversary of Dainik Ittefaq, a former president of the Chittagong Press Club made a rude remark inciting anger and hatred when I mentioned the torture of Barrister Moinul Hossain in the speech. However, City Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury (Hiru) made sophisticated, beautiful and elegant comments about Barrister Moinul. Azadi editor Reverend Malek Mama was present on the occasion and Ittefaq Bureau Chief Chittagong Press Club President Salahuddin Reza presided. We have no shortage of brokers, self-interested, power-hungry editor-journalists. Because of their flattery, the media and the sacred profession of journalism have been corrupted.
These flattering journalists have helped Sheikh Hasina to take away the voting rights of the people and blackmail the freedom of the media by campaigning for the Fake elections of 2014, 2018, 2024. In return, they have become owners of crores of rupees. Some have taken plots, flats, some have earned Corers of rupees by trading in lobbying. Some have become owners of various corporations, sectors, bank insurance, some have looted money and wealth by sitting in important positions in embassies, government institutions and universities. A large number of journalists in the country still cannot function normally due to financial crisis. However, unprincipled, idealistic, self-seeking journalists have become the owners of ten, twenty or hundred crores taka in 15 years of Sheikh Hasina. Most of the country’s newspapers and media and a class of journalists working in it have flattered her over the years to sustain Sheikh Hasina’s government. They helped establish Hasina’s injustice and cruelty. Journalism was not close to ideals. Their work was like that of party leaders. Many are also doing journalism from the position of Awami League. There was a competition between them, who could be ahead of whom in Hasina’s brokerage and who would go before whom in Hasina’s foreign tour. They have become the owners of hundreds of crores of rupees by taking privileges from Hasina by destroying journalism. Seeing their wealth and luxurious life makes anyone’s eyes roll. The list of Hasina’s broker journalists is now being published in various media. They are first class brokers. There is another group behind them, who have forgotten what journalism is. They did not come to do journalism, they came to broker dictatorship. They did not follow the minimum ethics of journalism. Sheikh Hasina has been promoted like a party worker. Even during the anti-discrimination student movement, these journalists gave fiery speeches in opposition to the press club. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina in the student uprising, these broker journalists are now rarely seen in the press club. Many of them are covered.
These broker journalists have corrupted the country’s journalism and it is certain that it will not be free from corruption if they are retained. Many of the journalists who became Rich and Riches through the mediation of Sheikh Hasina have fled the country. If they were doing real journalism, why would they run away?
Honest journalists-editors must unite by calling for the exclusion of these unscrupulous, corrupt, greedy editors-journalists everywhere if they want to defile the sacred profession of journalism.
Author: Senior Journalist and Freedom Fighter. Permanent Member of Chittaong Press Club from last 50 Years.
