Editors’ Council and DRU Strongly Condemn the Filing of an Anti-Terrorism Act Case Against Anis Alamgir

The Editors’ Council has strongly condemned the filing of a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the arrest of senior journalist Anis Alamgir after he was summoned to the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) office without any specific allegation. At the same time, the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has expressed deep concern. Both organizations view the incident as a serious threat to media freedom.

On Monday, in a joint statement, Editors’ Council President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud said that journalist Anis Alamgir was summoned to the DB office on Sunday without any specific allegation. He was detained there, and the following day a case was filed against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act, after which he was shown arrested. According to the Editors’ Council, such actions once again evoke horrific memories of state repression against journalists during past autocratic regimes.

The statement claimed that during the Awami League government, false cases, harassment, and arbitrary arrests of journalists were regular occurrences, and said that the present incident is a repetition of that unfortunate reality. The Editors’ Council clearly stated that if there is any specific allegation against a journalist, it must be resolved strictly through existing laws and due legal process. Summoning a journalist to the DB office without allegations, detaining him there, and later filing a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act and showing him arrested is in no way acceptable.

The Editors’ Council further reminded that after August 5, 2024, numerous journalists have been implicated in false murder cases, and many are still in prison. Although demands for the withdrawal of these cases were raised earlier, no effective initiative has yet been observed. The Council demanded the withdrawal of all baseless cases.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement on the same incident, DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel expressed strong condemnation and deep concern. They stated that summoning Anis Alamgir to the DB office without any specific allegation, filing a case against him, and later producing him before court and securing a five-day remand are contrary to media freedom and professional security.

The DRU leaders urged that no form of humiliating or harassing treatment be inflicted on Anis Alamgir while he is on remand. At the same time, they demanded an impartial investigation into the incident and an end to harassment cases against journalists.