RU journalists boycott all Rucsu programmes, demand VP's unconditional apology
Three campus journalists' organisations have given the Rucsu vice-president 24 hours to apologise over remarks they say threatened journalists.
Highlights:
- VP given 24 hours to issue unconditional public apology
- Journalists say remarks threaten press freedom
- TV journalists seek probe into controversial comments
- Nationwide protests warned if apology is not issued
Three journalists' organisations at Rajshahi University (RU) today (29 July) announced a boycott of all Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) programmes, demanding an unconditional apology from Rucsu Vice-President Mostakur Rahman Jahid over what they described as "controversial" remarks targeting journalists.
The organisations also warned that they would launch tougher protest programmes involving journalists across the country if the vice-president fails to issue a public apology within 24 hours.
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The announcement came in a joint protest statement issued by the Rajshahi University Journalists' Association, Rajshahi University Press Club and Rajshahi University Reporters' Unity.
According to the statement, Jahid made threatening remarks during a press conference over a recent incident at the university's central library, saying action would be taken against journalists and that they would be "tagged".
The organisations said the comments undermined journalists' right to publish impartial news.
The journalists said anyone objecting to a news report has the right to issue a rebuttal or seek legal remedy.
However, they argued that a student union representative threatening journalists and announcing punitive action against them runs contrary to the principles of press freedom.
The statement further said that if any organisation is declared banned by the government, taking legal action against it is solely the responsibility of the state and law enforcement agencies, not a student union or its representatives.
Until the vice-president issues an unconditional apology, members of the three organisations said they will refrain from covering or publishing any Rucsu activities.
In a separate statement, the Rajshahi Television Journalists Association (RTJA) expressed concern over and condemned the vice-president's comments.
The organisation said journalists have a fundamental duty to report matters of public interest impartially. It added that factual, evidence-based reporting remains legitimate journalism even if it affects the reputation of an individual or institution.
RTJA leaders described threats or calls for action against journalists as alarming for both press freedom and journalists' professional safety.
They urged the university administration to investigate the matter and take appropriate action, while expressing hope that Rucsu Vice-President Mostakur Rahman Jahid would clarify his remarks.
