Ganatantra Mancha demands release of Prothom Alo journo Samsuzzaman

Ganatantra Mancha, an alliance of seven political parties, has demanded immediate release of Prothom Alo staff correspondent Samsuzzaman who was picked up from his residence in Savar early Wednesday.

The alliance, in a press release, described the incident as a blatant attack on freedom of press and expression and conveyed grave concern.

Samsuzzaman is a staff correspondent of Prothom Alo. Some plainclothesmen, who identified themselves as members of the police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), picked him up after searching his residence. They said Samsuzzaman was being taken away due to his much talked about report on Independence Day.

Ganatantra Mancha said detaining a journalist at the dead of night is a severe attack on freedom of expression and media.

They also said activists of opposition parties have been tortured for expressing their views since the introduction of the Digital Security Act. The newsmen also went through the same torture.

Referring to the assaults on Prothom Alo special correspondent Rozina Islam and other similar cases, Ganatantra Manch demanded cancellation of the Digital Security Act and all false cases filed for expressing views.

The parties comprising the alliance are: Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Nagarik Oikya, Biplabi Workers Party, Ganasanghati Andolon, Gana Adhikar Parishad, Bhasani Anushari Parishad and Rashtra Sangskar Andolon.