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Morningsun Online //

Along with political leaders, seven journalists have also been accused in a case of Jatrabari police station in the capital. Last Thursday, the case was filed by the father of Naeem Howlader (17), who was killed in Jatrabari. Kamrul Islam.

Naeem was shot dead on July 19 during the anti-discrimination student movement. In this case filed by her father, the names of 193 people, including Sheikh Hasina and 14 party members including top leaders of various parties, leaders of various levels, police officers and journalists have been named as defendants.

The journalists named in the statement are Ekatar TV managing director Mozammel Babu, former news chief Shakeel Ahmed and former chief reporter-presenter Farzana Rupa; Ahmed Zobair, managing director of Time TV, Munni Saha, former news chief of ATN News, Syed Ishtiaq Reza, former editor-in-chief of Global Television and Naemul Islam Khan, press secretary of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Among these persons, Shakeel Ahmed and Farzana Rupa were arrested from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport last Wednesday. They are currently in remand in a case of Uttara Purva police station.

BJC Concerns: The Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) in a statement yesterday expressed concern over the remand of Shakeel Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in the murder case and the indictment of seven journalists in the latest Jatrabari police case.

Television journalism has been hampered and questioned due to oppressive laws and authoritarian practices, ownership patterns, etc. during the previous regime, the statement said. The recent student uprising has raised hopes of creating a field for independent journalism. Again, some recent events have resurfaced old concerns.