Protesting journalists and officials of the Bangla daily Janakantha on Monday alleged that Janakantha editor and publisher Shamima A Khan served the purposes of Awami League and an Indian intelligence agency and was still trying to serve their purposes.
Speaking at a press conference at the Janakantha Bhaban in the capital Dhaka, they said that they would not allow anyone to undermine the spirit of July uprising and support the Awami League and Indian agenda.
The July uprising ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
Sacked deputy chief reporter Israfil Farayezi, who filed case against Janakantha editor and 54 others with the Hatirjheel police station on Sunday, said that Shamima directed through her aides to make the template of the newspaper black instead of red following the social media post of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the early hours of August 1.
August is observed by the Awami League, activities of which remain suspended until the trials of the party and its leaders over atrocities during the July uprising, as the month of mourning over the killing of the country鈥檚 founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, on August 15, 1975.
鈥榃e have protested the move of the owner鈥檚 side. But, they did not pay any heed,鈥� he said.
He also said that none was appointed in the house having any political background of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
鈥楾he newspaper was run with the funding of the Indian intelligence agency RAW [Research and Analysis Wing] and Awami League,鈥� he claimed.
Shamima claimed that the plaintiff, among the sacked staff members of the newspaper, attempted to occupy the newspaper鈥檚 office with the help of others.
She alleged that National Citizen Party joint convener Joynal Abedin Shishir along with some people affiliated with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami 鈥榦ccupied鈥� the office illegally and framed her in a 鈥榝alse鈥� case.
鈥榃e did not expect such Bangladesh after the July uprising,鈥� she added.
Responding to a question at the press conference, NCP senior joint convener Joynal Abedin Shishir declined the allegations made by Shamima.
鈥楾he authority is tagging people and journalists with their political beliefs like fascist Sheikh Hasina did during his misrule,鈥� he said.
He also claimed that there was no political issue and none had grabbed the office.
The protesting journalists and officials alleged that six of their colleagues were sacked for protesting at the issue of turning the paper鈥檚 template black and the owner wanted to shut the office without paying their dues and benefits.
They urged the owner to shut the office by clearing all dues and benefits.聽
