TIB conditions Kurigram journalist’s arrest ‘illegal’
Terming the imprisonment of the Kurigram journalist illegal, Transparency Worldwide Bangladesh (TIB) about Saturday said these kinds of misuse of law is certainly in contravention of the constitutional commitment and against the freedom of media, studies UNB.
A mobile court on Fri midnight sentenced the journalist - Ariful Islam Rigan, Kurigram district correspondent of online media portal Bangla Tribune - to 1 time in jail and fined him Tk 50,000 for possession of 'liquor and hemp'.
Describing the incident related to showing disrespect to the freedom of mass media, the anti-graft watchdog demanded a speedy investigation into the incident and holding the ones responsible accountable.
"People would lose their rely upon local administration aswell as in federal government if speedy investigation into the nasty incident and accountability of the concerned are not ensured," they said found in a statement.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of TIB, said it is against the law to conduct a cellular court after lifting a man from his residence at midnight.
If the journalist were a suspect, they could have handled the issue in various way. "But lifting a guy after breaking into his residence at midnight in occurrence of an executive magistrate is certainly a questionable incident," he added.
Iftekharuzzaman found it clear that the motive behind the step is different things than suppressing crime. He urged the authorities worried to make sure strict legal actions against those responsible.
Rintu Bikash Chakma, the executive magistrate who led the portable courtroom, said "a taskforce of police, Ansar, and Division of Narcotics Control arrested Ariful with 450ml local liquor and 100g hemp at nighttime."
But Ariful's wife Mostarima Sardar Nitu said several laws enforcers entered their home at Charuapara around midnight and took away her husband forcefully.
TIB statement noted that Rigan have been reporting a series of reports for Bangla Tribune on the many failings and allegations of corruption centering the Kurigram DC's business office, and the unusual characteristics of the arrest using portable courtroom raises suspicions it may have been linked to his journalistic work.
Source: en.prothomalo.com
