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Apologetic Bangladeshi editor hit by multiple court cases

Journalist made mistakes but some say his critics are overacting
Apologetic Bangladeshi editor hit by multiple court cases

People protest harassment of editor Mahfuz Anam in the northeastern Bangladeshi town of Mymensingh, Feb. 23. (Photo by Hasan Raja)

Published: February 24, 2016 10:25 AM GMT
Updated: February 24, 2016 10:25 AM GMT

A Catholic rights activist and a church official have joined other activists in expressing concerns over a barrage of legal cases against the editor of Bangladesh's most popular English daily.

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, has been charged with 79 court cases — consisting of 17 sedition and 62 defamation suits — from members of the ruling Awami League.

The 65-year-old has been subjected to intense pressure since he admitted during a TV interview on Feb. 3 that he published unverified reports fed to him by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence during the caretaker government regime almost a decade ago. Anam conceded it was a lapse of judgment.

The military-backed interim government declared a state of emergency in 2007, detaining the leaders of the two biggest political parties, Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

The military also initiated cases against Awami League chief and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nationalist chief Khaleda Zia, aiming to banish them from politics, which was later known as the "minus two" formula.

Over the past weeks, ruling party leaders and activists sought Anam's punishment and resignation while also demanding his newspaper be shutdown.

Protests were held in various parts of the country where protesters burned effigies of the editor plus copies of his newspapers.

Hasina also spoke out against Anam during a Feb. 22 discussion meeting.

"He must tender in his resignation if he has any self dignity," said Hasina, according to the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangtha.

 

Critics going overboard?

Despite Anam's admission of wrongdoing, the amount of the cases filed against the editor is "disturbing," said Father Joyanto S. Gomes, secretary of  bishops' Social Communication Commission.

"Mahfuz Anam has admitted he has made a mistake, but this can't justify charging him with waves of cases," said Father Gomes.

However, Father Gomes said there is a lesson for journalists.

"The incident reminds us no one, not even journalists is above the law," the priest said.

Verbal and legal attacks on journalists are unexpected but one who commits errors deserves punishment, said Golam Rahman, a professor at Dhaka University.

"It is good that Mahfuz Anam has admitted his fault, which he could have done earlier. Had he not run the 'false' reports it would have been great of him," said Rahman.

The scale of the reaction against Anam threatens independent media in Bangladesh, says Catholic rights activist Rosaline Costa.

"It is great that Anam admitted his error especially in a country where people rarely admit their mistakes," said Costa, coordinator of Hotline Human Rights Trust.

"It seems like that by admitting mistake he has made a mistake," she said.

Costa questioned why the country's military intelligence and other media who also published the reports, are not being held accountable.

"The government's dual policy has a clear agenda. It wants to muzzle the few independent, critical voices in a country where most of the media is partisan," she added.

Over the past weeks, several protests and rallies have been held in support of Anam, calling for a withdrawal of all charges.

International groups, including Human Rights Watch, International Federation of Journalists, PEN International and the Asia News Network, a coalition of 19 Asian media organizations, have condemned the attacks and charges as well.

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