A protest demonstration meeting was held on January 16 at Altab Ali Park in East London, organized by expatriate journalists, to demand the unconditional release of imprisoned journalists in Bangladesh and the immediate withdrawal of false cases filed against them. The meeting was presided over by Dr. Azizul Ambia, the UK correspondent of Daily Bhorer Kagoj, and moderated by Kamrul I Russell, staff reporter of ATN Bangla UK.
The event featured Richard Bourne, a member of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, as the chief guest. Syed Nahas Pasha, Vice President of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, served as the keynote speaker. Other notable speakers included former BBC journalist Shamim Chowdhury, Barrister Tania Amir, freedom fighters Dewan Gaus Sultan and Khalil Kazi OBE, senior journalist Urmi Mazhar, Channel S and London-Bangla Press Club Assistant Secretary Md. Rezaul Karim Mridha, 26 TV Chairman and human rights activist Abdul Ahad Chowdhury, UK-Bangla Reporters Unity President Sajidur Rahman, Senior Vice President Jamal Ahmed Khan, and journalists Jewel Raj, Nazrul Islam Okib, Imdadun Khan, and Nurjahan Mifatun Nur.
Speakers at the meeting strongly condemned the repression of journalists in Bangladesh, stating that some have been held in prison for months under murder charges without bail. They revealed that around 160 cases have been filed against journalists, creating a climate of fear. The speakers called on the interim government to release the imprisoned journalists immediately.
They criticized the justice system for allowing major criminals to be released from jail while journalists remain detained. The speakers also raised concerns about the growing rise of extremism in the country.
The participants expressed their disappointment over Dr. Yunus’s failure to deliver on promises to withdraw false cases against journalists. Instead, repression has increased. They urged the government to stop the persecution of journalists and release all those imprisoned without delay.
The speakers warned that if immediate action is not taken to free the detained journalists, the movement will be intensified from the UK.
