Kaler Kantho’s ‘dishonest’ apology

Bangla daily Kaler Kantho has sought refuge in dishonesty by attempting to discredit bdnews24.com for its goof up in publishing a photo.

bdnews24.com had used a file photo of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad exchanging greetings in a dinner reception on June 28 after the passing of last year’s budget, in a story titled ‘Ershad meets Hasina’ ran on Thursday.

Kaler Kantho carried the picture on Friday crediting Press Information Department (PID) with the photo.

The newspaper admitted to the mistake after the President’s office sent a rejoinder as President Abdul Hamid, the then Speaker, was also seen in the picture.

The newspaper soon issued a half-hearted corrigendum. “It was web portal bdnews24.com that actually published the photo with that story. The mistake was made as there was relevance between its story and the photo.”

Kaler Kontho, however, did not cite bdnews24.com as the source of the story or the photo in question in the story that it ran on Friday in a classic case of shoddy journalism.

It was an ‘error’ to cite PID as a source of that picture, the newspaper said on Saturday to make amends in the bizarre apology.

A spokesperson for bdnews24.com said, “Kaler Kantho is being dishonest due to the weakness of its editorial leadership.”

The spokesperson added, “bdnews24.com had soon replaced the photo it used spontaneously.”

There is no scope of misunderstanding regarding the picture.

Bangabhaban protests, bdnews24.com explains

An objection letter sent to bdnews24.com by the President’s office over the photo said, “The President’s office is expressing its displeasure at the disagreeable act of publishing a misleading, caption-less, unwanted photo which has severely damaged President Abdul Hamid’s image.”

It also said that the President was at his residence, Bangabhaban, when the meeting took place between Jatiya Party chief and the Prime Minister on Thursday and the photo was not provided by the President’s office.

The President’s office also asked how the photo was posted and also inquired about its source.

The spokesperson for bdnews24.com responded saying, “The picture is of a dinner reception held on June 28, 2012 after the passing of last year’s budget, and the incumbent President Abdul Hamid was present there.”

It was used on Thursday as a file photo. The photo was used since a picture of the meeting between HM Ershad and the Prime Minister was not available for immediate use, which is a very common journalistic practice.

The spokesperson said that the picture in question had been removed from the story afterwards.