Inqilab says ‘sorry’ for libelous report hurting Hindu religious sentiment

Bangla-language daily Inqilab has retracted its libelous report on a senior police officer and apologised for carrying it.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 24 August 2014, 07:02 PM
Updated : 24 August 2014, 07:08 PM

In a notice published on its website on Sunday, Inqilab admitted that it did not maintain ‘adequate cautions’ in writing, editing and publishing the report on acting Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Pralay Kumar Joardar.

The notice came days after police took the daily’s news editor Robiullah Robi on a five-day remand in a case filed under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act.

The paper made several allegations besides accusing Joardar of creating an "unofficial Hindu League" in the police force in the report titled 'Police officer uses PM's name to dominate force' published on Aug 18.

Joardar filed the case with Wari Police against the newspaper's editor, publisher, chief reporter, city editor and the correspondent who wrote the report.
In the notice, Inqilab said it found in investigation that many of the information in the report were not based on facts.
It admitted the report presented ‘untrue’ statements on the police officer.
“We believe it has not been prudent to publish such a report involving him (Joardar) personally and the responsible police force,” the notice read.
The newspaper said ‘sorry’ for using words that hurt religious sentiment of a certain community.
It appealed to the individuals, institutions and ‘honourable members of the certain community’ who were hurt by the words to forgive it for the ‘unintentional errors’.
Inqilab said it was trying to identify those involved in publishing the report.
Earlier on Jan 18, the daily had apologised after it was sued for publishing a report captioned ‘Indian force’s assistance to joint forces’ operation in Satkhira.