International organisations concerned and call for bloggers release.

At least three international organisations expressed their concern for the arrest of four bloggers in Bangladesh. They called the government for their immediate release.

International Journalist Federation (IFJ), Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ), Reporters without Borders (RSF) have published their own press release in their website for the immediate release of four bloggers.  

In a statement released by International Journalist Federation (IFJ) says, The arrest of the four bloggers is seen as an effort by the ruling Awami League party to neutralise the counter-mobilisation by the Islamist party. Bangladesh’s Home Minister has since said that the government has a list of another seven “atheist bloggers” who could soon be arrested. Journalists in Bangladesh are disturbed by these developments and by the government’s stated intent to monitor blog content and initiate criminal action against alleged offenders."

Four bloggers arrested and blogs are being closed.

4 bloggers were arrested for “writing derogatory content about Islam”.

Bangladesh government challenges its secular character of its own by arresting four bloggers and blocking a blog name Amar Blog. They were held for 'derogatory write-ups'. 

Subrata Adhikary Shuvo, 24, Russell Parvez, 36, and Mashiur Rahman Biplob, 42, were picked up on Monday night. They were taken  in to remands for 7 days.  And later yesterday afternoon Asif Mohiuddin was arrested.

Before arresting them Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) blocked a blog site named Amar Blog. 

Journalists and the media divided in Bangladesh?

By Anwar Hossain; It is very unfortunate that Journalism is threatened in Bangladesh with its worst case scenario. And media outlets are self censored based on party ideologies. Both authority and fundamentalist party activists continuously threatening, attacking on the media outlets and journalists in Bangladesh. 

Under these circumstances the unity of the journalist organizations again fall apart which was re-united after the killing of two television journalists Sagor Sarwar and Mehrun Runi.

Press Freedom Index: Bangladesh falls 15 steps.

BY Anwar Hossain; Bangladesh goes down! Yes, in the 2013 Press Freedom Index published by the Reporters Without Borders, Bangladesh went 15 steps down from  129 to 144, out of 179 countries in the world.

In 2009, When the Bangladesh Awami League formed government, Bangladesh stood 121 out of 179. And next year in 2010 it came to 126. Again in 2011-2012 it went to 129. But the highest fall observed by this media watchdog is in this year 2013, 15 steps, from 129  it came to 144.