A human chain was held on April 6 at 4:00 PM in front of the Chattogram Press Club protesting what participants described as a false case filed against journalists. The program was organized under the banner of journalists working in Chattogram and members of civil society.Participants alleged that a vested interest group has been deliberately filing false cases against journalists to harass them, which they described as a serious threat to independent journalism. Speakers stated that although various serious allegations — including bank loan fraud and loan default — have long been discussed against Shahabuddin Alam, Managing Director (MD) of SA Group, no effective action has been taken for unexplained reasons. Instead, they claimed, false cases are being used to suppress journalists’ voices.According to the speakers, an arrest warrant was issued by the court in a case filed by a victim accusing SA Group of Industries’ MD Shahabuddin Alam of embezzling hundreds of crores of taka. The warrant reportedly included Shahabuddin Alam, his mother Laila Begum, his wife, and his two sons, Sajjad Arefin Alam and Shahariar Arefin Alam. After a news report published verified information regarding the court-issued arrest warrant, a case involving claims worth hundreds of crores of taka was allegedly filed implicating Aryan Lenin, a journalist of the popular Chattogram-based online television channel C Vision.It was further alleged that following the filing of the case, SA Group conducted a smear campaign by using Aryan Lenin’s photograph on the social media page of the powdered milk brand “Goalini Full Cream Milk” to spread misinformation. Meanwhile, the court has already ordered the removal of Goalini Full Cream Milk from the market over allegations of adulteration and substandard quality.Speakers at the human chain emphasized that protecting press freedom requires an immediate end to harassment through such cases against journalists. They also demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations to uncover the truth.The participants called for a fair investigation, legal action against those responsible, and ensuring the safety and security of journalists. They also demanded that SA Group MD Shahabuddin Alam immediately withdraw the case.Among those who spoke at the program were Noor Mohammad Rana, member of the convening committee of the Journalist Club; national civil rights and election analyst and C Vision editor journalist S.M. Akash; Sohag Arefin, President of Chattogram Reporters Forum; Kamruzzaman Rony, Divisional Bureau Chief of Daily Ekhoni Shomoy; journalists Abu Hena Khokon, Antar Mahmud Rubel (Organizing Secretary of Chattogram Reporters Association), Muhammad Rafiqul Islam, Shibbir Ahmed Osmani, Arafat Kader, Rakib Uddin, Rezaul Karim Babul, Abdul Awal Munna of CHD News, Babul Barua, Anisur Rahman, Channel S representative Rumen Chowdhury, Md. Jamshed Islam, Sunny Das, Chairman of Journalists Development Council Mizan Samarkandi, Rekha Alam, Shahidul Islam, Shafiqul Islam, Zahirul Islam Babul, camera journalist Shawkat, journalist Rajib, and others.
Also present were Pranto Barua, Joint Convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Chattogram Metropolitan; Shraban Barua representing civil society; Riaz Mohammad Sakib, Joint Coordinator of NCP Patiya Upazila; Niloy Barua, Organizing Secretary of C Vision Viewers Forum; July movement activist Mubin Uddin; former organizer of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Ahmad Ullah Sakib; and July activist Arif.Journalists from various media outlets, representatives of social organizations, and conscious citizens also participated in the human chain.
