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Bangladesh Editor Faces 79 Court Cases After an Unusual Confession Bangladesh Editor Faces 79 Court Cases After an Unusual Confession
(about 20 hours later)
DHAKA, Bangladesh — The math alone is a bewildering exercise for Mahfuz Anam, the editor of Bangladesh’s most popular English-language newspaper. Since February, the number of legal claims against him has climbed to 79 cases: 62 for defamation and 17 for sedition. DHAKA, Bangladesh — The math alone is a bewildering exercise for Mahfuz Anam, the editor of Bangladesh’s most popular English-language newspaper. Since February, the number of legal claims against him has climbed to 79 cases: 62 for defamation and 17 for sedition.
If convicted in all of the cases, Mr. Anam faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years. In the meantime, he is obliged to crisscross the country to appear at hearings in 50 of the country’s 64 judicial districts, and is petitioning the country’s high court to consolidate them. In some instances, he said in a recent interview, “I might have to physically appear in more than one place on the same day.”If convicted in all of the cases, Mr. Anam faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years. In the meantime, he is obliged to crisscross the country to appear at hearings in 50 of the country’s 64 judicial districts, and is petitioning the country’s high court to consolidate them. In some instances, he said in a recent interview, “I might have to physically appear in more than one place on the same day.”
Officials say the government is not behind the barrage of litigation, though many of the cases were filed by activists with the ruling Awami League, and at least one by an assistant public prosecutor. They were filed after Mr. Anam made an unusual public confession, expressing regret over articles that his newspaper, The Daily Star, published years ago on uncorroborated allegations of corruption against the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.Officials say the government is not behind the barrage of litigation, though many of the cases were filed by activists with the ruling Awami League, and at least one by an assistant public prosecutor. They were filed after Mr. Anam made an unusual public confession, expressing regret over articles that his newspaper, The Daily Star, published years ago on uncorroborated allegations of corruption against the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
Ms. Hasina’s control over Bangladesh’s political system has tightened since 2014, when the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted parliamentary elections and the Awami League swept the polls, virtually unopposed. That election pushed the Nationalist Party and its leaders to the margins of public life, where they have remained, despite a violent protest campaign that resulted in more than 100 deaths last year.Ms. Hasina’s control over Bangladesh’s political system has tightened since 2014, when the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted parliamentary elections and the Awami League swept the polls, virtually unopposed. That election pushed the Nationalist Party and its leaders to the margins of public life, where they have remained, despite a violent protest campaign that resulted in more than 100 deaths last year.
With political opposition dwindling, it has become increasingly risky to publish material critical of the government. Twenty-five defamation cases are underway against Matiur Rahman, the editor of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star’s sister paper and the country’s second most popular Bengali-language newspaper.With political opposition dwindling, it has become increasingly risky to publish material critical of the government. Twenty-five defamation cases are underway against Matiur Rahman, the editor of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star’s sister paper and the country’s second most popular Bengali-language newspaper.
Asif Nazrul, a law professor at the University of Dhaka, said the legal cases would further weaken Bangladesh’s civil society.Asif Nazrul, a law professor at the University of Dhaka, said the legal cases would further weaken Bangladesh’s civil society.
“These cases are a strong signal to not just Mahfuz Anam but to all media that if you go beyond the limits that have been set, then you too can be prosecuted for sedition,” he said.“These cases are a strong signal to not just Mahfuz Anam but to all media that if you go beyond the limits that have been set, then you too can be prosecuted for sedition,” he said.
Pressure on the two newspapers began to build last fall. After Prothom Alo and The Daily Star published a report in August on the killing of five men by army troops in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a former conflict area where the military has a large presence, a series of major private advertisers abruptly withdrew from the two newspapers, and advertising revenues for both publications dropped steeply.Pressure on the two newspapers began to build last fall. After Prothom Alo and The Daily Star published a report in August on the killing of five men by army troops in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a former conflict area where the military has a large presence, a series of major private advertisers abruptly withdrew from the two newspapers, and advertising revenues for both publications dropped steeply.
One executive said the advertisers had come under pressure from the government. Tor Odland, a vice president with the Norwegian company Telenor Group, said in a statement at the time that the Bangladesh telecommunications company Grameenphone, which is part of Telenor, “has, along with several other large corporations, received an instruction from the authorities to stop advertisements in two leading newspapers in Bangladesh.” Press officers for the government denied giving any such instruction.One executive said the advertisers had come under pressure from the government. Tor Odland, a vice president with the Norwegian company Telenor Group, said in a statement at the time that the Bangladesh telecommunications company Grameenphone, which is part of Telenor, “has, along with several other large corporations, received an instruction from the authorities to stop advertisements in two leading newspapers in Bangladesh.” Press officers for the government denied giving any such instruction.
Grameenphone has since placed occasional one-time advertisements in The Daily Star.Grameenphone has since placed occasional one-time advertisements in The Daily Star.
Tension returned last month when The Daily Star celebrated its 25th anniversary. In response to a question on a televised talk show, Mr. Anam expressed regret for a decision he made in 2007, when the country was led by a military-backed caretaker government, to publish uncorroborated allegations provided to the newspaper by military intelligence officials. The corruption allegations were the basis for the arrest and 11-month detention of Ms. Hasina, then the prime minister. Her rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia, was also detained. Tension returned last month when The Daily Star celebrated its 25th anniversary. In response to a question on a televised talk show, Mr. Anam expressed regret for a decision he made in 2007, when the country was led by a military-backed caretaker government, to publish uncorroborated allegations provided to the newspaper by military intelligence officials. The corruption allegations were the basis for the arrest and 11-month detention of Ms. Hasina, who was out of power at that time (her first tenure as prime minister lasted from 1996 to 2001). Her rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Khaleda Zia, was also detained.
Sajeeb Wazed, Ms. Hasina’s son, reacted immediately, writing on Facebook that he wanted “Mahfuz Anam behind bars and on trial for treason.”Sajeeb Wazed, Ms. Hasina’s son, reacted immediately, writing on Facebook that he wanted “Mahfuz Anam behind bars and on trial for treason.”
The defamation cases began to be filed after Mr. Wazed’s post, sometimes at a rate of five or more per day. Hasanul Haq Inu, Bangladesh’s information minister, said the government had not orchestrated the cases.The defamation cases began to be filed after Mr. Wazed’s post, sometimes at a rate of five or more per day. Hasanul Haq Inu, Bangladesh’s information minister, said the government had not orchestrated the cases.
“This is not the government against Mahfuz Anam. This is the people against Mahfuz Anam,” he said in an interview. “The Daily Star continues to publish, and has written pieces critical of the government since the cases were filed. The government has no problem with that. There is freedom of the press here.”“This is not the government against Mahfuz Anam. This is the people against Mahfuz Anam,” he said in an interview. “The Daily Star continues to publish, and has written pieces critical of the government since the cases were filed. The government has no problem with that. There is freedom of the press here.”
He added, however, that Ms. Hasina and her son “have every right to want” Mr. Anam to face prosecution.He added, however, that Ms. Hasina and her son “have every right to want” Mr. Anam to face prosecution.
Ms. Hasina has demanded that he resign from the newspaper and stand trial. “The editors will be tried just like we are trying the war criminals,” she said at a public discussion.Ms. Hasina has demanded that he resign from the newspaper and stand trial. “The editors will be tried just like we are trying the war criminals,” she said at a public discussion.
Mr. Anam described himself as “flabbergasted” at the cases filed against him, noting that the material published in 2007 was “national news, covered by everybody.” Even today, he said in an interview, journalists are under pressure to uncritically publish material provided by military officials, among them accounts of civilians killed in confrontations with police or military officials.Mr. Anam described himself as “flabbergasted” at the cases filed against him, noting that the material published in 2007 was “national news, covered by everybody.” Even today, he said in an interview, journalists are under pressure to uncritically publish material provided by military officials, among them accounts of civilians killed in confrontations with police or military officials.
“Do we have a chance to verify that actually what is being told to us is substantiated by facts?” he said. “We don’t have that.”“Do we have a chance to verify that actually what is being told to us is substantiated by facts?” he said. “We don’t have that.”
Mostafizur Rahman, an assistant public prosecutor who filed the first sedition case against Mr. Anam, said the newspaper’s reporting was an attempt to “try and wipe out that family, in order to put this country under the thumb of an evil force by printing falsehoods.”Mostafizur Rahman, an assistant public prosecutor who filed the first sedition case against Mr. Anam, said the newspaper’s reporting was an attempt to “try and wipe out that family, in order to put this country under the thumb of an evil force by printing falsehoods.”
Asked about reporting on high-level corruption, he held up his hands, palms outward, as if to show that no such reporting should be necessary. He invoked Ms. Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first leader, using an affectionate nickname.Asked about reporting on high-level corruption, he held up his hands, palms outward, as if to show that no such reporting should be necessary. He invoked Ms. Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s first leader, using an affectionate nickname.
“You are asking what if someone from Bangabandhu’s family does something illegal?” he said. “His family could never do something like that. Such a family would not be Bangabandhu’s family.”“You are asking what if someone from Bangabandhu’s family does something illegal?” he said. “His family could never do something like that. Such a family would not be Bangabandhu’s family.”