PEN Bangladesh strongly condemns the harassment and arrest of journalist Tanvir Hasan Tanu, district correspondent of private channel Independent Television, Daily Ittefaq, and online portal Jago News, and filing case against Rahim Shuvo, district correspondent of online portal NewsBangla24.com, and Abdul Latif Litu, district correspondent of Bangladesh Pratidin and private TV channel News24.

PEN Bangladesh issued a press release in this regard.

A case has been filed against three journalists in Thakurgaon under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for publishing reports on alleged irregularities and corruption related to food for Covid-19 patients at the Sadar Hospital.

The press release also said: "It is truly unacceptable for a journalist to be treated in this manner merely for trying to do his job. This kind of continuing misuse of the DSA is only squeezing the space of professional journalism and diminishing free expression." 

PEN Bangladesh respectfully appreciated the court for granting prompt bail and hopes the court may see fit to dismiss such patently malfeasant cases altogether.

BDST: 1620 HRS, SEP 16, 2021
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