Three Inqilab journalists sent to jail

Khaleda demands release, asks govt to free all media

Staff Correspondent

A Dhaka court sent three journalists of Bangla daily Inqilab to jail yesterday, a day after they were arrested at the daily's office in connection with running a “baseless” report.
The three are News Editor Rabiullah Rabi, Deputy Chief Reporter Rafiq Mohammad and Diplomatic Correspondent Ahmed Atique.
Producing the arrestees before the court, police prayed for five-day remand of Ahmed Atique, said court sources.

Metropolitan Magistrate Atiqur Rahaman fixed Monday for hearing the remand and bail prayers of the three journalists.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday expressed concern and condemned the police raid on the daily's office, sealing off its printing press and arrest of three journalists.
The daily was not published yesterday.
Detectives on Thursday night raided the Inqilab office on the capital's RK Mission Road, rounded up the three newsmen, seized three computers and sealed off the press, plate-making and server rooms.
The move came hours after Sub-inspector Jahangir Alam of Wari Police Station lodged a case under the ICT act and the penal code accusing Inqilab Editor AMM Bahauddin and three other journalists.
They have been accused of running a “baseless” report on Thursday claiming that Indian forces had taken part in operations in Satkhira ahead of the January 5 parliamentary polls.
KHALEDA EXPRESSES CONCERN
In a statement, Khaleda said the government has sealed off the Inqilab's press with an intention to disrupt its publication.
She demanded the authorities open all the “closed media houses”, including the Bangla daily Amar Desh and private television stations Channel 1, Diganta TV and Islamic Television.
She also called for unconditional release of all journalists, including Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
PRESS CLOSED TEMPORARILY: INU
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said the “false” report run by Inqilab could spoil the Bangladesh-India ties.
The report could also incite the people of Bangladesh and insult the joint force members, he told journalists after an executive committee meeting of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at its Bangabandhu Avenue office.
Also president of the JSD, Inu said the paper's press has been closed temporarily and its publication has not been cancelled.
Running a false and rumor-based report is a grave offence under the ICT act, mentioned the minister.
“Danger is not over yet although the election has been held and we've won it. Our important leader and former prime minister [BNP chairperson] is involved in a conspiracy against democracy. Our journey will be successful when the trial of war criminals is finished and the militancy is uprooted,” he added.   
Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday staged demonstrations in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the police raid on the Inqilab office and arrest of its journalists. It demanded release of the newsmen within 48 hours.