Arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor ill-motivated: Oikya Front

Six leaders of Jatiya Oikya Front in a joint statement have expressed concerns over the issuance of arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and nine others.

Oikya Front convener Kamal Hossain, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) ASM Abdur Rab, BNP standing committee member Moyeen Khan, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gonoshasthaya Kendra trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh chairman Nurul Amin Bepary signed the joint statement.

A Dhaka court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and nine others on charges of negligence for the death of ninth grader Naimul Abrar, a student of Dhaka Residential Model College.

“The way different important persons of the government spoke about before and after the filing of the case and the way Prothom Alo editor has been implicated made us believe that the case is ill-motivated,” the leaders said in the statement.

They said that the warrant was issued in the case although there was a chance to continue the legal process by issuing summon.

The scope to seek remedy in the higher court has been restricted by issuing the arrest warrant just a few hours ahead of the weekly holiday, the leaders pointed out.

The Oikya Front leaders termed the case as manifestation of continued attack on the freedom of expression in the country. They urged the authorities concerned not to use the case as a means to curb freedom of expression and press.

Prothom Alo editor and other accused should get complete legal protection and justice free from any kind of influence in the case, the Oikya Front leaders added.