The Editors’ Council (Sampadak Parishad) on Thursday expressed grave concern over bank account summons of top journalist leaders by a government agency.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has sought the bank accounts of 11 leaders of the top four organisations of journalists, including the president and general secretary of the National Press Club.
The Editors' Council thinks that under the existing law, allegations against an individual can be investigated, but seeking information of bank accounts of only 11 top leaders, belonging to the same profession, is purposeful, which has never happened in any profession in the past.
The council considers such initiatives as pressure and a threat to the independent journalism in the country, a statement issued by the President of the Council Mahfuz Anam and its Acting General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, said.
