ARTICLE 19 seeks withdrawal of case against Bangladesh editors

Expressing serious concern over the lawsuit against the editors of Jagonews24.com, and bdnews24.com, international human rights organization ARTICLE 19 has demanded the authorities concerned immediately withdraw the case. 

Earlier on April 17, Mominul Islam Bhasani, president of Thakurgaon's Baliadangi upazila unit Swechchhasebak League, an affiliate body of ruling Awami League, lodged the case against Mohiuddin Sarker, acting editor of Jagonews24.com, and Toufique Imrose Khaledi, editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com under the Digital Security Act over a report on rice relief theft amid coronavirus crisis.

Besides the editors, two local correspondents- Shawon Amin and Rahim Shuvo- were also accused in the case who in facebook posts termed Mominul rice thief.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the London based organization's Bangladesh and South Asia director Faruq Faisel said, "In such a moment, the case was filed when the journalists pick news on irregularities in coronavirus relief distribution and embezzlement in the country that pushed the grassroots-level journalists into more risks,"

"ARTICLE 19 has been saying that Bangladesh's digital security act is impediment to the rights to freedom of speech and establishing a free mass media. So, ARTICLE 19 again urged the government to make the law consistent with international human rights after reviewing it," Faisel added.