IFJ expresses deep concern over cases against Mahfuz Anam

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) in expressing serious concerns over a barrage of legal cases filed against Mahfuz Anam, the editor and publisher of The Daily Star.

IFJ published their statement on their website on Tuesday.

The IFJ said the attempt to pursue coordinated legal proceedings against the editor was a clear attempt to intimidate the media and muzzle press freedom in Bangladesh.

IFJ mentioned that, At least three dozen cases, including six sedition pleas and a dozen defamation cases, were filed in the past weeks against The Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam in 17 districts of Bangladesh by various individuals and political groups.

`The legal actions were launched after Anam admitted during a televised interview on February 3 to a lapse in editorial judgement in publishing reports based on information supplied by the country’s task force intelligence cell during the caretaker government regime almost a decade ago without being able to independently verify them` they added.

It is also mentioned that, The military-backed interim government declared a state of emergency in 2007, detaining the leaders of the two biggest political parties and initiating cases against them`.