Judiciary 'crippled' under interim government, says Noab president
AK Azad, president of the Newspaper Owners' Association of Bangladesh (Noab), has criticised the interim government over its actions and alleged interference in the judiciary.
"The interim government, like past ones, has crippled judiciary and is keeping ordinary people in jail without trial. We had expected a lot of freedom from the current government. But what is the reality?" He made the remarks today (28 January) at a policy dialogue organised by the Media Resource Development Initiative in the capital.
Addressing one adviser, he added, "He knows he will leave on the 12th [of February], so why is he not ensuring justice? Why is he keeping innocent people in jail and denying them bail?"
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Expressing concern over judicial independence, the Noab president said judges who grant bail fairly are often transferred.
AK Azad said, "If the government is not going to remain after the 12th, then it has no reason to fear…Why are they crippling the judicial system in this way?"
Stating that the character of the interim and past governments is largely the same, he said a culture of impunity continues to prevail.
He alleged that police are arresting innocent people to extort money, adding that those who can pay are released, while those who cannot are sent to jail. He also alleged misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Special Powers Act.
Referring to his personal experience of pressure on the media, AK Azad said, "My house was demolished in the past, but no media outlet investigated why it was demolished. Fear is behind this silence."
He warned that if one newspaper is attacked today, another could face a similar situation tomorrow.
"If we remain divided in this situation, journalism will not survive. We must remain united," he said.
Others present at the dialogue included The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, former head of the Media Reform Commission Kamal Ahmed, Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain, and Jamuna Television CEO Fahim Ahmed, among others.
