Awami-backed 28 journalists under scanner

The interim government has directed relevant authorities to go tough on 28 journalists who collaborated with the authoritarian Awami League regime. The Ministry of Information and broadcasting recently made a list of these journalists.

However, apart from the list, more journalists who were allegedly involved in committing crime against humanity during the July and August popular uprising led by students and supported by the people remained missing from the list. More names will be verified and added later to the list, sources said.

The names of two editors of Bengali dailies were initially included in a case but were later excluded in suggestion of law enforcement agencies and the court, he said.

The 28 journalists include The journalists whose information has been sought are Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Press Club President Farida Yasmin, Zayedul Hasan Pintu of DBC News, Subhash Singh Roy of abnews24.com, Haider Ali of Kaler Kantha, JI Mamun of ATN, Bangla Insider Editor Syed Borhan Kabir, Bangladesh High Commission Press Minister Shaban Mahmud, Bangladesh Protidin City Editor Mirza Mehdi Tamal and Chief Reporter Zulkarnain Rono, Samakal Editor Alamgir Hossain, Madhusudan Mandal of BSS, DBC's Masud Ayub Curzon, Executive Editor of Amather Samoy Mainul Islam, Journalist Faraji Ajmal Hossain, Ashok Chowdhury of Baisakhi TV, Executive Editor Rahul Raha, Daily Sun Editor Rezaul Karim Lotus, News 24 Deputy Chief News Editor Ashikur Rahman Shraban, Jugantor Special Correspondent Abdullah Al Mamun, Swadesh Pratidin Editor Rafiqul Islam Ratan, Mukhopatro Editor Sheikh Jamal Hossain, DBC News' Special Correspondent Aditya Arafat, ATN News Special Correspondent Tauhidul Islam Sourav, Jugantor Special Correspondent Sheikh Mamunur Rashid, Journalist Shyamal Sarkar, City Editor Ittefaq Abul Khair and Daily Kalbela Editor Santosh Sharma.

Further developments are expected as the government scrutinizes more journalists accused of colloborating facist Awami League regime.