Rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra on Wednesday condemned incidents of dismissal of three journalists from different media outlets losing their jobs.
According to media reports, the dismissals came in the aftermath of a heated confrontation between the journalists and cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki at a press briefing on Monday, said a press release issued by ASK on Wednesday.
The rights body also condemned targeting journalists in July-uprising cases and an attempted murder case filed against 17 artistes, including actress and former Awami League lawmaker for reserved seat Suborna Mustafa, and actresses Apu Biswas and Nipun Akter.
During the post-briefing question-and-answer session, journalists raised several issues, including the use of masks resembling deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the procession, and the number of casualties during the July uprising.
The interaction turned tense, with Farooki eventually rising from his seat to respond to the reporters.
Later on Tuesday, news emerged about Deepto TV鈥檚 broadcast suspension and the dismissals or forced resignations of the three journalists.
Information and broadcasting adviser Mahfuj Alam, however, denied a report that the government banned the news broadcast of the private Deepto TV channel.
He said that the interim government did not suspend Deepto TV鈥檚 news activities.
鈥楾his is an internal decision of the Deepto TV authorities,鈥� he said while talking to reporters at the secretariat on Tuesday.
Additionally, 137 journalists were accused in 32 criminal cases filed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Bogura and Rajshahi based on the July uprising. They were even booked under the Explosives Act.
Urging the government to urgently take necessary steps to protect the rights of journalists, the ASK in its release said that such incidents were a threat to the smooth performance of professional duties of journalists and the freedom of press.
Meanwhile, the rights body said that lodging an attempted murder case against artistes was considered to be an attempt to spread fear among them.
