Bangladeshi protesters enter TV station; owners, journalists are fired

DHAKA: Bangladeshi student protesters stormed the office of a television station investor on Tuesday for “accommodating the views of a defunct political party”, prompting the sacking of at least five journalists.

The students took part in the August revolution that overthrew Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose tenure was marked as one of the worst periods for media freedom.

On December 17, Hasnat Abdullah, the initiator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, brought about 15-20 students to the offices of City Group, which invests in Television Somoy.

“Somoy Television has been spreading propaganda by twisting my comments and accommodating the views of a fallen political party,” Hasnat said. AFP.

“We are strong supporters of freedom of the press, but the press must remain impartial,” Hasnat said, adding that he saw no problem in making the demands but rejected reports that the students had handed over a list of those they wanted fired.

The managing director of the business conglomerate that finances the TV channel did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The incident increased fear among journalists in the wake of the revolution.

One journalist, Omar Farok, who was a senior editor at the television station, said he was among five who received a letter of dismissal without cause.

“Television management has asked several of us to resign for the greater good of the station,” Farok said AFP.

“We demanded explanations for this decision, but the authorities refused to provide them.”

Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has repeatedly insisted that he wants media freedom.

Yunus’ spokesman Shafiqul Alam tried to distance the government, saying that if anyone “takes any action, the responsibility lies with them”.

Press watchers say many journalists who critics say supported Hasina when she was in power face police investigations in apparent retaliation for their past work.

At least four journalists have been jailed, and dozens face legal cases across the country.

Hasina and her government have often been accused of exerting undue pressure on several independent media outlets, including closing down newspapers and television channels and imprisoning journalists.

After the fall of Hasina’s government, several TV channels, including Somoy TV, came under attack for her alleged allegiance to the Awami League.

In November, protesters besieged the offices of Prothom Alo, the largest Bengali-language newspaper, and threatened to shut it down as well as The Daily Star.

Press freedom in Bangladesh has long been under threat.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Bangladesh ranks 165 out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom.