Commonwealth journalists’ forum concerned over death threats to Bangladeshi journo

New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) The Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA), a global body of media practitioners working under the umbrella of the Commonwealth, on Saturday voiced concern over the death threats issued to Shyamal Dutta, one of its Vice Presidents and Editor of Bengali language daily published from Dhaka, Bhorer Kagaj.

The CJA in a statement expressed shock and extreme concern that one of its Vice Presidents and Bangladesh chapter General Secretary Shyamal Dutta is facing threats of violence from Islamist fundamentalists who have publicly called for his hanging.

The issue raised by those who have spoken out against Shyamal Dutta is a report carried by the newspaper about 'vulgarities' contained in a book on the Hadith published by the Madrassah Education Board, an official body of the Bangladesh government.

The article in question was a factual report on a matter of public interest but it has been misinterpreted as if the newspaper report had called the Hadith vulgar. That is categorically not the case. Public marches and a demonstration in front of the Press Club in Dhaka took place on December 23, at which protesters demanded punishment for Dutta and the concerned reporter.

A string of legal notices have been served on him and an apology has been demanded. The newspaper has issued a clarification that it merely reported, quoting sources, and had not passed any comment on the Hadith.

It said Dutta has also been the target of an aggressive, derogatory and threatening campaign against him on social media. Some of the comments have a sectarian character, focussed on the fact that he and the reporter who wrote the article are members of the Hindu minority community.

In view of the incidents over the past months when a number of bloggers and journalists have been attacked and killed in broad daylight in Dhaka and other cities, the CJA is extremely worried for the safety of Dutta, his team and the newspaper itself.

This has been conveyed in a formal letter to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh is a secular democracy. The CJA expects the Government of Bangladesh to ensure adequate protection to all concerned and to send out a stern message to those responsible to desist from any further threats, incitements and false accusations," it said.

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