DHAKA, Sept 19, 2024 (BSS)- Journalist leaders today demanded scrapping all black laws including the Cyber Security Act (CSA) to ensure press freedom. 

They also demanded trial of the killing of 65 journalists during the regime of Awami League along with the murder of journalist-couple Sagar-Runi.

The journalist leaders made this demand at a rally on the Jatiya Press Club premises organized by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ). 

The meeting was organized to press home their demand for repealing all black laws against media freedom, including the CSA, trial of journalist-couple Sagar-Runi murder case and enactment of law to safeguard press freedom and protect the interests of the media workers. 

BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu attended the function as the chief guest while DUJ president Shahidul Islam was in the chair.

Speaking the rally, Dudu said the interim government must have to bring the perpetrators of Sagar-Runi murder to book. 

“Many cohorts of the previous government were involved with the killing causing delay in delivering justice of the case”, he said.

“We firmly believe that the interim government will take necessary steps to expedite the investigation of the case and deliver justice.

BNP chairperson’s advisor Habibur Rahman Habib, BFUJ secretary general Kader Gani Chowdhury, Jatiya Pres Club (JPC) president and Daily Kaler Kantho Editor Poet Hasan Hafiz, DUJ general secretary Khorshed Alam, vice president Rashedul Huq, BFUJ treasurer Shahidul Islam, addressed the rally.

JPC president Hasan Hafiz said all black laws imposed by the autocratic government are still existing. The interim government must take step immediately to annul the black laws including the CSA to ensure the freedom of press, he said.