ZCZC
BSS-44
HASAN-ARREST-JOURNALIST
Journo Ariful’s arrest was illegitimate: Hasan
DHAKA, Mar 15, 2020 (BSS)-Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the arrest of Bangla Tribute’s Kurigram correspondent Ariful Islam and his punishment process were not made properly.
“I personally think that it was not carried out legitimately,” the minister said while talking to journalists after inaugurating ‘Mujib Corner’ at Jatiya Beter Bhaban at Agargaon here.
Bangladesh Beter Director General Hosne Ara Talukder presided over the programme.
Hasan said the way journalist Ariful Islam was arrested from home at the dead of night and jailed by a mobile court under a taskforce of Kurigram district administration was not done following proper procedures.
“As far I know that mobile court will be run at the place of occurrence . . . operating a mobile court after picking up a person is not legitimate in any way. It is not acceptable . . . public administrative ministry is working on it,” said Dr Hasan, also the joint general secretary of Awami League.
“It is DC or any other official . . . whoever they may be . . . if he or she did anything beyond law the government will take actions against him or her. Other people, who were involved in it, could not avoid their responsibility,” he said.
Responding to another question about the reported missing of journalist Shafiqul Islam Kazal, Hasan said law enforcement personnel are looking into the matter.
About the celebration of birth centenary of Bangabandhu, he said the programmes marking the Mujib Barsha have been revised due to conoravirus outbreak despite having mass enthusiasm among people.
Present programmes include illumination and distribution of food among destitute as such programmes do not draw huge public gatherings, he added.
Hasan said none will remain homeless during the Mujib Barsha as the government has been working to this end.
He said Bangladesh Beter has been playing a vital role in building media-friendly nation and suggested it to design programmes on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary for building a prosperous Bangladesh.
BSS/ASG/BN/TRA/TAN/KU/2111 HRS