Kamal Hossain accused guardians of constitution of violating it

Dhaka, March 10 (BDNEWS) – Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain Thursday accused the guardians of the constitution of violating it at their whims.

"Our constitution is the best one of its kind. But the persons responsible to keep it high are violating it now and then," Dr Kamal said while speaking at a seminar on "Media Role in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and Advocacy," organised by Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust (BLAST) at the VIP lounge of National Press Club.

Referring to the killing of people in the name of 'crossfire', Dr Kamal, who is also the chairperson of BLAST, said the state minister for home himself is violating the oath he took to preserve the constitution.

Presenting several judicial examples, he insisted on a bold and neutral role of both the judiciary and the media to guard public interests.

Member of BLAST Trustee Board Justice Naimuddin Ahmed called upon the media personnel to be more cautious in legal reporting. Giving some specific references he said, " Court often becomes influenced due to media pressure. It was seen in some sensitive cases that media role led the accused to receive capital punishment where he might get minor sentence."

"The definition of Contempt of the Court should be applied carefully," he said, adding, "No step should gag the freedom of expression in the name of legal actions."

Ataus Samad, advisory editor of the Daily Amar Desh and trustee board member of BLAST said many important public interest topics are overlooked in media due to ill-political practice.

"Newspaper ownership in our country now a days belongs to capitalists," he said posing a question, "how far would they pay attention to affairs like PIL except their own interest?"

He suggested BLAST to keep continued round the year activities interacted with media for PIL awareness. He also insisted on the sensitisation of both the judicial and media personnel on the issue.

General Secretary of Dhaka Union of Journalists and the chief news editor of Channel-i Shah Alamgir said political polarisation among journalists often damages public interest.

Citing the killings of some journalists, including Manik Shaha, Humayun Kabir, senior correspondent of UNB Faruk Kazi said the killing incidents manifest the vulnerability of the media people in Bangladesh.

Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, executive editor of Sangbad and moderator of the seminar said, “though freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution, but as we saw, it is not practiced by the state.

Zayadul Ahsan Pintu, Chief reporter of the Daily Star, insisted on investigative journalism in public interest issues while Golam Mortuza, executive editor of the Weekly 2000 emphasised on follow-ups.

A number of media and judiciary personnel took part in the seminar.

BDNEWS/1705 hrs