Legal notice to halt media statements on ongoing investigations

A legal notice has been sent to the government, requesting a halt to media statements regarding ongoing investigations, including the murder case of Jhenaidah-4 MP Anwarul Azim Anar.

On Wednesday, May 29, Supreme Court lawyer Muhammad Shishir Monir sent the notice. It was addressed to the Home Secretary, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Dhaka Police Commissioner.

The notice states that MP Anwarul Azim Anar went missing while seeking medical treatment in West Bengal, India. According to media reports, he was brutally murdered, and his body has not yet been recovered, causing significant public concern. The case has become a "talk of the country," with real-time updates being broadcasted across electronic, press, and social media. Both the governments of Bangladesh and India are conducting a high-priority investigation. Authorities periodically release official updates, and journalists frequently ask questions about the situation. Media outlets choose various headlines, and freelancers share clips on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, leading to widespread confusion.

The High Court, in the case of Ayesha Siddika Minni vs. The State (39 BLD 470), has provided necessary directives on such matters.

The High Court notes that during the investigation of high-profile crimes, law enforcement agencies, including the police and RAB, often present accused individuals to the media before they are produced in court. This practice can be demeaning and inappropriate from a human rights perspective. Media briefings on ongoing investigations can lead to premature conclusions about the guilt of the accused, who are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. It is inappropriate to present detained individuals in a way that damages their dignity and reputation. Furthermore, making statements about an ongoing investigation before the police report is submitted can compromise the investigation’s impartiality and create public controversy or doubt.

The notice emphasizes that if media statements on ongoing investigations are not stopped in light of the High Court‍‍`s ruling, a writ petition will be filed in the higher courts.