POBNEWS24, Dhaka Jan 15, 2025 : Journalists are the conscience of society, the mirror of society. They can uncover all truths through writing through the pen. Their pens cannot be stopped for justice. The planners of the murder of journalist Manik Saha must be unmasked. Former student leader and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Ruhin Hossain Prince demanded the intervention of government policymakers in this regard. He said, ‘Manik Saha practiced people-oriented journalism until his death, was uncompromising in favor of the liberation war and equality. However, a farce has been made in the name of trial of his murder case. In the interest of establishing justice, that sensational case must be re-investigated.’ He said, ‘Manik Saha always spoke about the suffering people, highlighted the words of the working people through his sharp pen. Even today, some are threatening to break the pens of journalists. Journalists are the conscience of society, the mirror of society. They can reveal all the truth through writing through the pen. Their pens cannot be stopped in favor of justice. On January 15, a terrorist attack was carried out on a peaceful gathering of tribal students. 11 students were injured in this attack, at least 3 of them are in critical condition. I think that this attack on activists active in the mass uprising in a post-mass uprising country is against the spirit of the mass uprising.
He said these things at a human chain and rally organized by journalist Manik Sahar Suhrid in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday.
(CPB) former president Mujahidul Islam Selim said, journalist Manik Saha himself knew that the way he was performing his duty as a soldier of truth would be attacked. However, he was never afraid of death. Those who kill journalists like Manik Saha are enemies of truth. He also said that the current interim government has announced the trial of all disappearances and murders of the last 16 years. We certainly agree with this initiative. However, it will not be enough to do only 16 years. All the murders and crimes of the previous government must also be tried.
It is worth noting that journalists and political leaders have demanded the formation of a special committee to identify those involved in the murder of Ekushey Padak-winning fearless journalist Manik Saha. They said that independent journalism is under threat due to the series of murders and tortures of journalists. However, the planners, sponsors, financiers and others involved in the murders and torture of journalists are beyond reach. Manik Saha was killed in a bomb attack by miscreants in front of the Khulna Press Club on the afternoon of January 15, 2004.
On the night of July 16, 2000, journalist Shamsur Rahman was shot dead by terrorists at the Janakantha Jessore office. Even though 24 years have passed since this brutal murder, justice has not been served. He was in charge of the Jessore bureau of the Janakantha newspaper. The case has been on hold for 24 years. After journalist Shamsur Rahman was murdered on the night of July 16, 2000, the CID police filed a charge sheet in court in 2001, accusing 16 people in the case. After the previous coalition government came to power, an extended investigation into the case resulted in the new accused Farazi Ajmal Hossain, a journalist in charge of the Jessore bureau of Dainik Ittefaq. It is learned that journalist Shamsur Rahman was the victim of a planned murder because he reported against smugglers. Bani wept in secret during the trial. Shamsur Rahman’s family is still roaming the streets hoping for justice. The human chain demanded a re-investigation and fair trial of all murder cases, including those of journalists Manik Saha, Shamsur Rahman Cable, and Sagar-Runi.
The rally, moderated by Ashish Kumar Dey, also included journalist leaders Khairuzzaman Kamal, treasurer of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Hasan Tariq Chowdhury Sohel, general secretary of the Democratic Lawyers Association, Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, cultural organizer Pulak Raha, coordinator of the Sundarbans and Coastal Protection Movement Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, hawkers leader Sekandar Hayat, and journalist Sameeran Roy, among others.
