‘Trial Process Lacked Transparency’: 102 Journalists Issue Statement Against Verdict on Sheikh Hasina

Staff Correspondent

Terming the verdict against Sheikh Hasina as ‘opaque and worrying’, 102 journalists working in different parts of the country and abroad have issued a joint statement. They said that the question of transparency and justice has been avoided in the trial process. They demanded an immediate reconsideration of the matter.

The journalists said that the judiciary should work independently – that is the expectation; but questions are being raised at home and abroad about the verdict in such important cases. They believe that the lack of transparency and accountability weakens public trust in the courts. The statement called for maintaining the independence of the courts as a responsible institution, respecting democratic values ​​and human rights.

A total of 102 people, including senior journalists, former and current leaders of various journalist organizations, and expatriate journalists living outside the country, signed the joint statement. Among them are:

1. Syed Badrul Ahsan, Senior Journalist
2. Farida Yasmin, Former President, National Press Club
3. Manjurul Islam, Senior Journalist
4. Shaban Mahmud, Former Secretary General, BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Journalists
5. Abu Zafar Surya, Former President, Dhaka Union of Journalists
6. Sohel Haider Chowdhury, President, Dhaka Union of Journalists
7. Md. Ashraf Ali, Joint General Secretary, National Press Club
8. Akhtar Hossain, General Secretary, Dhaka Union of Journalists
9. Pranab Sarkar, President, Agartala Press Club and Member, India National Love
10. Syed Borhan Kabir, Chief Editor, Bangla Insider
11. M. G. Kibria Chowdhury, Editor, Daily National Economy
12. Nazrul Kabir, Former Vice President, Dhaka Reporters Unity
13. Mohiuddin Sarkar, Former Editor, Dhakapost.com and Jagonews24.com
14. Riaz Haider Chowdhury, President, Chittagong Union of Journalists
15. Saiduzzaman Samrat, President, Khulna Journalists Union
16. Fazlul Bari, Australian expatriate journalist
17. Masuda Bhatti, Senior Journalist
18. Jannatul Ferdous Chowdhury, Office Secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union
19. Saifullah Mahmud Dulal, Canadian expatriate journalist
20. Khandaker Ismail, Canadian expatriate journalist
21. Rashedul Islam Biplob, President, Journalists Union Kushtia
22. JM Rouf, President, Bogra Journalists Union
23. Khairul Alam, Former Joint General Secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union
24. Sheikh Jamal, Former Organizing Secretary, Dhaka Reporters Unity
25. Taimur Farooq Tushar, Editor, Bengal News 24.com
26. Shamima Dola, Senior Journalist
27. Manik Lal Ghosh, Former Vice President, Dhaka Journalists Union
28. Md. Shafiul Haque, Former President, Bangladesh Journalists Association
29. Masud Curzon, Senior Journalist
30. Zakir Hossain Emon, former president, Dhaka Sub-Editors Council
31. Ashraful Islam, former president, former treasurer, Dhaka Union of Journalists
32. Gopal Banik (Neel), executive editor, News Vanguard India
33. Ikhtiar Uddin, senior journalist
34. Debashish Roy, former planning editor, Ekushey TV
35. Golam Mujtaba Dhrub, organizing secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union
36. Sumi Khan, former women’s affairs secretary, Dhaka Reporters Unity
37. Shafiqul Alam Milon, organizing secretary, Bangladesh Film Journalists Association
38. Rezaul Karim Reza, former sports and cultural secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union 
39. Raju Hamid, former publicity and publication secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union
40. Shahidul Haque Jibon, general secretary, Television Camera Journalists Association
41. Shamima Akhter, former president, Law Reporters Forum
42. Sajeda Haque, Executive Member, Dhaka Journalists Union
43. Sanjay Dey, Senior Journalist
44. Rafiqul Islam Pintu, Senior Journalist, AsianAge
45. Md. Raghebul Reza, Senior Journalist
46. Rafiqul Islam Sujan, Senior Journalist
47. AZM Sajjad Hossain Sabuj, Senior Journalist
48. Pradeep Chowdhury, Morning Evening
49. Jharna Moni, Former Women’s Affairs Editor, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU)
50. AKM Obaidur Rahman, Former General Secretary, Dhaka Sub-Editors Association
51. Falguni Dutta, Senior Journalist, Ekushey TV
52. Wareshunnabi Khandaker, Senior Journalist, GTV
53. Md. Shahid Rana, Organizing Secretary, Dhaka Sub-Editors Council
54. Israfil Shaheen, Senior Television Producer and General Secretary, Tele Producers Association (TPA)
55. Toufiq Maruf, Senior Journalist
56. Shafiq Babu, Senior Journalist
57. Dastagir Jahangir, US expatriate journalist
58. Sultana Rahman, US expatriate journalist
59. Fakir Elias, US expatriate journalist
60. Sharif Shahab Uddin, former editor, Bangladesh Post
61. Pinaki Talukder, senior journalist, US
62. Mahe Alam James, former general secretary, TV Camera Journalists Association
63. Sanjid Ahmed, senior journalist, Canada
64. Shahnaz Ruma, senior journalist, Canada
65. Yasmin Rimu, senior journalist, Canada
66. Apel Mahmud, TBN24
67. Mainul Islam, senior journalist
68. Mohammad Shamim, New York expatriate journalist
69. Ruhul Amin Tuhin, senior journalist
70. FM Mushfiqur Rahman, senior journalist
71. Pranab Barua Arnab, executive member, BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union
72. Ramzan Ali, senior journalist
73. Zubair Chowdhury, former public welfare secretary, Dhaka Journalists Union
74. Pradeep Kumar Roy, editor, OTN Bangla, Australia
75. Kazi Runa, Senior Journalist
76. Azahar Mahmud, Senior Journalist
77. Aminul Islam Munna, Senior Journalist
78. Rahima Akhtar, Senior Journalist
79. Nurul Haque Shipu, Special Correspondent, Runner TV, UK
80. Siddiqur Rahman, Former General Secretary, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum
81. Md. Sajidur Rahman, President of Reporters Unity, UK
82. Chhamir Mahmud, UK expatriate journalist and former general secretary of Sylhet District Press Club
83. Mahbub Smarak, Senior Journalist
84. Sabbir Khan, Sweden expatriate journalist
85. Debesh Barua, France expatriate journalist
86. Kamrul I Russell, Journalist, UK
87. Helal Uddin, Former President, Sirajganj Press Club
88. Imranul Azim Chowdhury, Senior Journalist
89. Hamid Mohammad Jasim, Member Secretary, Swadhinata Journalists Council
90. Sajeda Parveen Saju, former vice president, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum
91. Harlal Roy Sagar, former Finance Secretary, Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB)
92. Ataur Rahman, President, Gazipur Journalists Union
93. Halima Akhter, former Executive Member, Dhaka Journalists Union
94. Jahangir Khan Babu, Bureau Chief, News Live Bangla Television India
95. Professor Apu Alam, Editor and Publisher, Probase Bangla (France),
96. Debesh Barua, President-France Bangla Press Club
97. Sohel Majumder Shipon, Editor and Publisher, Deshpriyo News (Italy),
98. Khaled Golam Kibria, Advisory Editor, Deshpriyo News (France),
99. Comrade Khondaker, former General Secretary, Bangladesh Press Club, Italy.
100. Salah Uddin, Editor, Spain Bangla News24
101. Soheli Chowdhury, Treasurer, Dhaka Journalists Union
102. ABM Zakirul Haque Titon, Editor, Daily Khabarwala