The Editors’ Council on Sunday submitted a list of 282 journalists to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, drawing attention to allegations that 94 of them have been named in murder cases.
The list was handed over during a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Cabinet Division’s Public Administration Meeting Room in the Bangladesh Secretariat, where senior government officials and media representatives discussed issues related to the media sector, journalistic practices and press freedom.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Editors’ Council members said the list was shared as a preliminary document, noting that it may not fully represent the overall situation and that some names could still be missing. They said the exercise was intended as a starting point for further review and discussion.
Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said the Council raised concerns that filing criminal cases against journalists could undermine democratic norms and harm the government’s image. He added that the Prime Minister received the list cordially.
Referring to the discussion, Mahfuz Anam said the Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, who was present at the meeting, had been asked to take necessary follow-up steps.
The minister, however, said the Prime Minister shared the editors’ concerns and had already instructed him to act accordingly.
The delegation also noted that there has been no state-level interference in media operations since the formation of the BNP-led government and expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister’s engagement.
The Editors’ Council delegation included Nurul Kabir, Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Mahfuz Anam, Shamsul Huq Zahid, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Matiur Rahman, AMM Bahauddin, Rusho Mahmud and Mozammel Haque Lalu.
Senior officials including State Minister Yasser Khan Choudhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman were also present.
Following the meeting, the Prime Minister hosted the Editors’ Council leaders at a luncheon, where informal discussions continued alongside the formal agenda.
Officials described the meeting as part of ongoing engagement between the government and media stakeholders on issues of accountability, press freedom and development of the media sector.
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