UNB, Dhaka
The High Court on Monday issued rule upon a woman journalist of a weekly newspaper to explain why punitive action should not be taken against her for denying disclosing the source of news as asked in a contempt of court case.
Issuing the rule, a division bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice M Abdul Hye set January 27 for hearing on the matter.
Reporter Nasreen Akhter of the weekly ‘Sheersha Kagoj’ appearing at the court submitted affidavit-in-opposition through her lawyer denying disclosing the source of news.
In her affidavit, she said disclosure of the source of news is contrary to the ethics of journalism. Once the source of news is disclosed, all sources of information will stop and as a result, people will be deprived of their rights to get information. Conveying due respect to the court and the judges, Nasreen expressed her inability to divulge the source of news despite facing possible punishment.
On January 7 last year, vernacular weekly ‘Sheersha Kagoj’ published a special report headlined, ‘kalo takao sada korlen ak bicharpati’ (a judge too whitens black money), pointing finger at Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman of the High Court.
After three days, the HC division bench on January 10 issued a suo moto contempt rule against the weekly’s editor M Ekramul Haque, reporter Nasreen Akhter and 16 others.
In its rule, the court had asked them to explain why proceedings should not be drawn or action taken for publishing “false, fabricated, scandalous and libelous report in a bid to tarnish the image of the highest judiciary.” Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for Nasreen Akhter.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
