Journalists on Tuesday launched a forum titled Journalists for Justice to work for journalists and media workers oppressed during the 15 years of the authoritarian regime of deposed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
A six-member convening committee with journalist Kazi Jesin as convener, journalists Zahed Chowdhury, Oliullah Noman, Maruf Mallick, Ehasan Mahamud and Alfaz Anam as members was announced at a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity.
Jesin said that the primary task of the forum would be to create a list of journalists and media workers who were victims and oppressed during past 15-year fascist rule.
Journalists for Justice will also actively work for their compensation and rehabilitation, said the convener.
She mentioned that not only journalists themselves, but their family members also faced lawsuits, attacks and harassment.
Many journalists had to leave the country to escape the oppression they faced for performing their professional duties, Jesin added.聽
Noman said that freedom of speech was seized not only from journalists but also from all the people in the country during the fascist rule.
Many media houses were shut down forcefully and many of the journalists and media workers became jobless during the time, said the journalist.
Zahed said that the forum would become the voice of those victims and it would spread their voices to ensure justice.
Maruf said that a reform in the journalism sector must be done to ensure true journalism in the country.
He also said that then Awami government targeted and oppressed many journalists and media houses for silencing its opponents鈥� voices while a group of many journalists and media houses played a big role in establishing the fascist narrative.
Alfaz expressed his indignation over demeaning the journalism profession and misusing it as the fascist government鈥檚 propaganda machine.
Ehasan said that the forum would not only be limited to work for the victims and oppressed journalists during the fascist rule but also would work for establishing the environment for professional journalism in the country.