Bangladesh Press Council (BPC) has warned and reprimanded the editor and publisher of the Bangla daily Bangladesh Protidin for publishing false, fabricated and motivated reports against the editor of the daily Prothom Alo.
The council also directed Bangladesh Protidin Editor Shahjahan Sarder and its Publisher Mostafa Kamal Mohiuddin to refrain from publishing any such report, which the council termed “exposed the practice of yellow journalism”.
“The daily Bangladesh Protidin has exposed the practice of yellow journalism by publishing false, fabricated and motivated information against Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman,” the council said in its verdict.
BPC also directed both the newspapers to publish full verdict of the council within a week from receiving the copy of the judgement on May 5.
With reference to different reports published since April 4 in 2010 in Bangladesh Protidin regarding Matiur Rahman and his alleged involvement in the grenade attack on an AL rally in 2004, Bangladesh Protidin failed to provide any evidence to substantiate its reports.
BPC came up with the verdict after scrutinising the reports and hearing from both the sides. It also said that the reports were against journalistic ethics and laws.
Matiur Rahman filed the case with BPC on October 24 last year stating that the newspaper was trying to destroy his neutral image and reputation by publishing report containing false, fabricated and motivated information, said a press release from Prothom Alo.