The High Court (HC) on Thursday questioned the legality of the notification issued by the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) containing the newspaper circulation number and advertising rate of those.
The HC issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain in four weeks as to why the list issued by the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) containing the newspaper circulation number, advertising rate of those and chronology should not be declared illegal.
It is also wanted to know in the rule as to why the respondents should not be directed to reissue the list after determining and confirming the newspaper circulation number, advertising rate of those and the chronology as per the rules and regulations.
Information Secretary, Director General of the DFP and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule.
The High Court bench of Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Md Bashir Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition that was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Farhat Jahan Shirin as public interest litigation.
Advocate Dewan Md Abu Obayed Hossain Setu appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner.
Lawyer Shirin filed the writ petition annexing a newspaper cutting that said, “Suddenly on September 8 in 2022, the DFP has brought a major change in the circulation number of the national daily newspapers. This change has led to allegations of widespread irregularities. Number of circulations of unpublished newspapers was also increased by 70 to 80 thousand overnight in the DFP list.
Besides, the number of circulations of some newspapers those are publishing reguolarly has been reduced by 50-60 thousand. In some cases the number has been reduced only 500, 1000 or 2000. It will affect the owners and journalists of 20 to 30 newspapers.”
