The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued an official letter on Tuesday asking two journalists to appear before it over a report on suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mizan. Mizan has been accused of bribing ACC director Enamul Basir with Tk 4 million to influence a probe against him. ACC Director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah asked online news portal Bangla Tribune Special Correspondent Dipu Sarwar and Imran Hossain Sumon, Senior Reporter ATN News to appear at the ACC office on Wednesday (Jun 26) while threatening legal consequences on non-compliance.
Following a peaceful demonstration by a number of professional journalists in front of the ACC office on Wednesday (Jun 26), the ACC said its Director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah has been served with a show cause notice. Journalists have taken a stand against the ACC on a four-point demand. They have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to meet the demand. If not, journalists will take a stand again in front of the ACC office Thursday (June 27) at 10am.
The demand includes apology for the objectionable indecent letter written by the ACC, the letter should be withdrawn immediately, action against the person who has issued the letter, and the need to ensure free movement of the journalists at ACC office. Meanwhile, Crime Reporters Association Bangladesh (CRAB) expressed deep concern in a press release, stating that the indecent letter issued should be withdrawn before 10am, June 27.
Bangla Tribune published a news report on Jun 23 titled ‘Who is the mysterious Doyas in conversation with DIG Mizan?’ on audio clips of conversation between DIG Mizan and a Bangladeshi expatriate Abdul Doyas.’