ATN's Mahfuz fails to stifle demo

The court throws out his petition for an embargo on the protests on Sept 16 by journalists.

Dhaka, Sep 10 (bdnews24.com)—A Dhaka court on Monday rejected ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman's attempt to muffle protests on Sept 16 by journalists to press for arrest of the killers of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.

The First Joint District Judge's Court of Fazle Elahi threw out his petition at 4:30pm saying that the court should not curb the people's right to freedom of speech.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq argued for Rahman who sought a ban on the programme where journalists will renew demand for arrest of the killers.

In the petition, Rahman named 59 journalists from National Press Club and six other journalist organisations.

The journalists will stage a human-chain protest and demonstrate in front of the ATN Bangla office to demand the arrest of Rahman as well, for what they alleged was his involvement in the murders.

The programme was announced on Sep 5 when the journalists' leaders threatened to wage a countrywide tougher movement if the killers were not arrested by Sep 25. They also announced protest programmes to be observed ahead of the deadline.

The demonstration against Rahman is one of the protest programmes scheduled for Sep 16. The journalists will also hold a rally in front of the Press Club on Tuesday.

Rahman threw himself into controversy after he claimed in London that extra-marital relationship was behind the twin murders and the journalists have been demanding that he be arrested and questioned.

Those named in the petition include Editors of 26 national newspapers; journalists Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Ruhul Amin Gazi, Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, Omar Faruque, Shaban Mahmud, Shakhwat Hossain Badsha, Abdus Shahid, and Baker Hossain; Chief Editors of all the private television channels except for ATN Bangla and ATN News, Editors-in Chief of bdnews24.com and Banglanews24.com.

Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar and ATN Bangla Senior Correspondent Runi were killed at their West Rajabazar residence in the city on February 11.

Detective police investigated the murder for two months before the High Court tasked Rapid Action Battalion with the enquiry in April.

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