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Published : 03 May 2026, 03:43 PM
Media workers have formed a human chain with their faces covered in black cloth to protest the ban on journalists entering courtrooms at the Supreme Court.
They said they would boycott all news from the country’s top court if the ban was not lifted immediately.
The Supreme Court Reporters Forum (SRF) held the programme in front of the main gate of the Supreme Court from 12:45pm to 1:20pm on Sunday.
Since Jan 7, media workers have not been allowed to enter courtrooms of the Appellate Division and various benches of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
For decades, media workers had gathered news by freely entering the Appellate Division courtroom. But since Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury took office as chief justice, a verbal ban has been imposed on journalists entering courtrooms.
At the rally, the organisation’s General Secretary Mehedi Hasan Dalim said: “Today is World Press Freedom Day. Even on this day, journalists are facing obstruction and abuse in many places around the world. A courtroom is a public place, where judicial proceedings are open to public observation.
“Therefore, preventing journalists from observing court proceedings and gathering news is not only a professional obstacle, but also a clear violation of the fundamental right guaranteed under Article 39 of the Constitution.”
He said it was the constitutional responsibility of the state and the administration to ensure journalists’ access to all public places, including courts, to safeguard the free flow of information and judicial transparency.
SRF President Masud-dur Rahman Rana said: “We are protesting at a time when World Press Freedom Day is being observed around the world, and yet we are unable to enter the Supreme Court, our long-standing workplace. A long-standing tradition in the highest court has been suspended by the current chief justice after he took office. This is very sad and painful for us.”
Questioning whether publishing reports on corruption was a crime, the SRF president said: “Is it a crime that those of us who work here publish reports on corruption and irregularities in the Supreme Court? If it is a crime, then we want to say that even if you block access, our pens will continue to write. We will continue to publish our reports, and we will demand the restoration of access to the Supreme Court for everyone.”
Warning of a news boycott if their demands are not met, Rana said: “Journalists do not go to the Supreme Court for any personal gain. If the chief justice considers us adversaries, then we will be forced to take tougher action. We will stop publishing all news regarding the Supreme Court if necessary.”
Addressing the chief justice, he said: “If the honourable chief justice thinks he wants to have a Supreme Court where nothing is questioned, then he may block access. We once again say in unity that access to the highest court should be reopened to journalists immediately. Otherwise, the Supreme Court will be responsible for creating any undesirable situation.”
He further said: “Our earnest request to the honourable chief justice is that he truly consider this. Otherwise, it will harm the common people of the country, justice seekers, the country’s democracy and the state. It will harm an institution, which will eventually become immersed in corruption. Gradually, it will become questionable while remaining closed to questions.”
More than 100 media workers assigned to Supreme Court benches attended the protest.
