A government-listed yaba pill trader filed a law-suit against two journalists, accusing them of defamation, which was denounced by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
Both journalist organizations voiced their serious concern that such a move might restrict objective journalism in this country in separate news releases.
The Tk100 crore defamation case was filed against Bangla national daily Dainik Bangla Editor (acting) Sharifuzzaman Pintu and his fellow Special Correspondent Arifuzzaman Tuhin by Shafiullah Shafi.
On the government's list of the 255 most wanted yaba traders, Shafi's name is listed in third place, said the journalist bodies.
The case was filed with the court of Cox’s Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate on Monday (January 9) while the news published on Friday (January 6) at the Dainik Bangla under the title “255 joner talikai Bodir keo nei – none from Bodi’s companions among the list of 255”.
The media article basically stated that the government had created a fresh list of yaba traders and that no men from the alleged yaba godfather Bodi, a former MP from Cox's Bazar-4 constituency, were on it.
DRU Office Secretary Kowsar Azam and DUJ-faction Office Secretary Amanullah Aman signed the press releases respectively.
Terming the case as false and baseless, both the forums demanded immediate withdrawal of the lawsuit.
