MPs demand Mahfuz Anam be tried, Daily Star shut down

Several MPs have demanded that Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam be tried and the newspaper shut down for running graft stories against Sheikh Hasina based on unsubstantiated DGFI information during the 2007-8 caretaker regime.

The demand was made in Parliament on Sunday, two days after Prime Minister Hasina’s son and ICT Advisor Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy sought Anam’s arrest and trial for ‘treason’.

Awami League’s Fazle Noor Taposh the initiated discussion in which others including Shamsul Haque Tuku, Waresat Hussain Belal, Moinuddin Khan Badal and Haji Mohammad Salim took part.

File Photo

Many of them demanded that Anam step down as the Daily Star editor and its owner Latifur Rahman be brought to book for publishing uncorroborated stories fed by the DGFI, the armed forces’ intelligence wing when the military-controlled regime was in power.

Anam admitted in a TV talk-show on Feb 3 his ‘big mistake’ in running stories that claimed Hasina had taken bribes.

Taposh said, “He (Anam) published fabricated news without verification.”

“False cases were filed against Sheikh Hasina. Mahfuz Anam published the fabricated corruption stories that the DGFI fed the Daily Star to create the ground for her arrest,” he added.

Demanding his removal, the MP said, “He has no right to continue as the editor. He must be expelled on charges of defaming the profession.”

He claimed Anam and others like him had all along conspired to subvert democracy and back ‘unconstitutional governments’.

Referring to Section 7 of the Constitution, Taposh said Anam’s activities amounted to sedition and that he deserved to face trial.

“Latifur Rahman of Transcom is corrupt. We know his links with ULFA had been proved,” he added.

Badal of JaSaD said, “Mr Mahfuz, you are an educated man. You had put the leader of Bangladesh on trial. You should quit.”

“No one can go scot-free merely by admitting one’s mistakes. Quit, if you think you have done something wrong,” he said.

Awami League MP Belal said Anam had always tried to serve his own interest only.

“Journalism should be without fear and favour. But he is doing just the opposite. The entire nation knows about the sources of their income. How can a newspaper run by people getting money from such sources do anything good?” he said, without elaborating.

Awami League’s Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon said Anam was part of the conspiracy to ‘depoliticise Bangladesh’.

“With whose money was Daily Star established? It and the (Transcom) Group run on the money of those who want to use Bangladesh to ruin a State,” he said.