20 May 2017, Sat, 9:34

Monitoring Journos: Foreign ministry withdraws circular

Amid a growing demand from the journalist community, the foreign ministry has withdrawn a circular that directed Bangladesh missions abroad to keep watch on journalists travelling abroad.
Lutfor Rahman, director general of the External Publicity Wing at the ministry, conveyed the revised decision to all the heads of missions abroad.
"It has been decided to withdraw the letter under reference with immediate effect as it was not appropriately coordinated," a diplomat told UNB last night, quoting the official communication.
"If anybody's involvement is found against the interest and the image of the country, s/he must be identified and their negative activities must be reported back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately," the ministry asked the heads of Bangladesh missions abroad on Wednesday.
The foreign ministry requested the heads of missions to take up the matter "seriously" so that Bangladeshi journalists were monitored.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday said journalists would face no obstacle during their travel abroad and performing professional duties there.
He, however, said it was necessary to monitor whether anybody was doing anything while travelling abroad that went against the country's image and interest.
The minister also said monitoring was necessary not only for journalists but also for all citizens, and that was in the interest of the country.
Earlier yesterday, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) urged the foreign ministry to immediately withdraw its notice.
Expressing deep concern over the notice, DRU President Sakhawat Hossain Badsha and General Secretary Mursalin Nomani in a statement said, "DRU thinks such a circular will hamper journalists' freedom of expression and freedom of movement which is a barrier to establishing free mass media."
They said the legal provision allows the authorities to take action if any journalist is found involved in any crime. "But this directive is insulting for the entire journalist community. At the same time, it has become a fear factor."