Prothom Alo editor wanted political vacuum: Salim Mahmud

The government did not take legal measures to frighten Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman; instead, the case was filed for the sake of the constitution, the law, the country’s security, journalistic norms and people’s welfare, said Dr Salim Mahmud, secretary of Information and Research of the Awami League.   

His comment followed a statement of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Thursday which condemned Digital Security Act case against Matiur and Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams for publishing a report challenging the emancipation of the country on Independence Day on March 26.

“The foreign journalists don’t know the history of Bangladesh. The editor, who they claimed are being frightened, was once active to put the country into trouble,” Salim said referring to the 1/11 changeover and the caretaker regime led by Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed

“He wanted to empty the country’s political arena to deprive it of proper leadership. In his own newspaper, he had written “Both leaders should leave,” the AL leader recalled.  

Salim questioned the role of Matiur in a country that has a rich history of democracy and struggle for the people’s rights.

Matiur, according to Salim, also hatched conspiracies against the constitution.

“He crafted plots to bring in unconstitutional forces by removing the constitutional rule. What would have happened if his plans came true today?” he questioned.  

Throwing a question to Reporters Without Borders, Dr Salim wanted to know “Does freedom of press allow any conspiracy to facilitate unconstitutional rule?”

On the controversial March 26 report, he said: “Are not giving Tk 10 to a child, taking his photo and publishing disdainful report on the country’s independence misquoting the child crimes? Is a journalist above law?”

Exploiting a child in exchange for money is unpardonable offence which endangers life of the minor, he opined.

“The journalist concerned tried like to benefit from abusing a first grader. It is a horrendous crime. What did they (foreign journalists) do in a similar situation in their countries?” Salim asked.

He reminded the RSF of freedom of press, separation powers, equality before law, fundamental rights, protection of citizens and election to every tier of governance requirements for democratic country.

Prothom Alo hypes its objective journalism and editorial transparency, but the newspaper was skeptical about embezzlement of company funds, money laundering and harassment of employees by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, he added.