Ain o Salish Kendra expresses serious concern over the recent cases filed against Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam on sedition charges and the issuance of summon.  

According to media reports, Mahfuz Anam, speaking about freedom of publishing news and deviation of the media on a talk show in a private TV channel on 3 February 2016, admitted that he had ran a report in the Daily Star without verifying its authenticity in 2007. Soon after he made this statement, a barrage of sedition and defamation suits were filed against him in different parts of the country. The way cases were filed and summons were issued against Mahfuz Anam after he expressed this, is a matter of grave concern.

We also think the legal proceedings Mahfuz Anam faced after giving that statement and expressed remorse is, in no way, positive for freedom of media. Rather, it could be severely detrimental to freedom of the press as well as freedom of expression.

Article 39 of the Constitution of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh guarantees every citizen freedom of speech and thought and Article 11 ensures basic human rights and freedom.

We expect that all concerned parties will play a responsible role in this regard considering the matter of ensuring freedom of media and constitutional protection.

We demand a fair and impartial trial of all cases filed against Mahfuz Anam.