Deputy Attorney General ABM Altaf Hossain yesterday
clarified that the High Court did not impose any restriction
on the media on publishing reports on the murder of
journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
clarified that the High Court did not impose any restriction
on the media on publishing reports on the murder of
journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi.
On February 28, the HC bench of justices AHM Shamsuddin
Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim verbally
asked the information secretary to take steps within 24 hours
to ensure that the media do not publish any speculative
reports on the killings.
Chowdhury Manik and Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim verbally
asked the information secretary to take steps within 24 hours
to ensure that the media do not publish any speculative
reports on the killings.
“I have a copy of the High Court order in which it hoped
the media will not publish any speculative reports that
can hamper the probe into the murders,” Altaf told
reporters at his office.
the media will not publish any speculative reports that
can hamper the probe into the murders,” Altaf told
reporters at his office.
The HC bench also asked the authorities not to make
any statement before the media without making any
breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
any statement before the media without making any
breakthrough in the ongoing investigation.
The deputy attorney general also said the HC has the
jurisdiction to correct and modify its verbal order.
jurisdiction to correct and modify its verbal order.
The court issued the ruling in response to a public
interest litigation filed by Human Rights and Peace
for Bangladesh.
interest litigation filed by Human Rights and Peace
for Bangladesh.
Sagar Sarowar, news editor at private TV station Maasranga,
and his wife Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at another
TV channel ATN Bangla, were killed in the wee hours
on February 11 at their rented apartment in the
city's West Rajabazar.
and his wife Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at another
TV channel ATN Bangla, were killed in the wee hours
on February 11 at their rented apartment in the
city's West Rajabazar.
The Daily Star yesterday obtained a copy of the HC
order that was released recently.
order that was released recently.
Praising the role of journalists, the HC said “We would
expect our journalist friends to remain vigilant to ensure
that nothing that may infuse venomous effect into the
investigation process, is ever expressed, bearing in
mind that unsubstantiated speculative stories may
plunge the investigating process into nihility.”
expect our journalist friends to remain vigilant to ensure
that nothing that may infuse venomous effect into the
investigation process, is ever expressed, bearing in
mind that unsubstantiated speculative stories may
plunge the investigating process into nihility.”
It strongly criticised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's
comment on the murder, saying “The leader of the
opposition has virtually pronounced a judgment on
the felony, saying that the government has killed
the couple.”
comment on the murder, saying “The leader of the
opposition has virtually pronounced a judgment on
the felony, saying that the government has killed
the couple.”
“Had this been done in the United Kingdom or another
developed country, the makers would have been taken
to task, because the statement does not only breach
the sub judice rule, it is also capable of perverting
the course of justice,” the court said
developed country, the makers would have been taken
to task, because the statement does not only breach
the sub judice rule, it is also capable of perverting
the course of justice,” the court said
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