BJIM raises concern over legal notice against Channel 24 journalist for BCB graft report

Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) on Monday has expressed concern over a legal notice served on Channel 24 and its sports journalist Ashriq Rudro over a report on alleged irregularities in floodlight repair works at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The notice, issued on behalf of BCB Facilities Department’s assistant manager Md. Imran Hossain, disputes the allegations and the authenticity of a document cited in the report.

In the report, aired on August 28, a couple of documents were cited as evidence of Imran allegedly facilitating a change in vendor for floodlight repair work during the previous Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

According to the documents, the new vendor charged 2200 taka per bulb clean-up, while the previous vendor charged only 600 taka. The report claimed Imran got a commission from the inflated price.

It cited another document, alleging Imran showed an expenditure of a little over 1 lakh taka for the procurement of the design and some other documents of the Purbachal National Cricket Ground to be sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

In the letter sent to the channel and the journalist, demands were made to disclose the document's source, remove the report from all platforms, and that an unconditional apology be made within three working days. Legal actions were threatened if the demands were not met.

In its statement, the BJIM said it does not take a position on the allegations or the disputed document's authenticity, but described the demands as disproportionate and risking a chilling effect on public-interest journalism.

“Where reporting is disputed, the preferable first course should be a substantive rejoinder, presentation of documentary evidence, and correction or clarification where warranted. Demands to disclose journalistic sources or erase reporting from archives should not become a routine response to critical journalism,” the statement read.

The organisation urged the BCB official to withdraw the demands and called on authorities to ensure laws are not used to enable judicial harassment of journalists.