A human chain organized by journalists at Karwan bazar roundabout on Friday in protest of a Digital Security Act (DSA) case filed against RTV journalist Yeasmein Akter Adhora for her report on "misdeed of a syndicate of Pirs".
On May 13, One Shakerul Kabir filed the case in Chattogram court against the RTV reporter and another one.
The incident revealed after Rafiqul Islam, the investigating officer of the case informed RTV On July 10.
In that protest, the journalist leaders demanded the withdrawal of the case against Adhora. They also demanded the repeal of the Digital Security Act (DSA). The law is being used to harass journalists and suppress freedom of expression.
They also urged to take action against the "pir syndicate" instead of harassing journalists for unearthing crimes.
Leaders of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association including Dhaka Journalists Union, Dhaka Reporters Unity, ACC Beat journalists' organization RACK participated in the hour-long protest.
Sohel Haider Chowdhury, president of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) expressed frustration and dissatisfaction over filing the case against journalists under DSA.
He said, "We hope Yeasmein Akter Adhora's case will be withdrawn, or the home ministry will issue a statement declaring it null and void," he demanded.
Akter Hossain, General Secretary of DUJ and News Editor of RTV, said, "After the case, now they are giving various threats and even death threats. Just as the young journalist tries to unmask the land grabbers, the Rajarbagh land grabbers come after him with a case against him."
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) President Morsalin Nomani, DRU former general secretary Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo, Nurul Islam Hasib, Former Joint General Secretary Shahnaz Sharmin, Jamiul Ahsan Sipu, Reporters Against Corruption (RAC) General Secretary Jameson Mahbub, Former Executive Member of Dhaka Journalist Union Golam Mujtaba Dhrubo, Former President of Sub-Editors Council Nasima Akhter Soma, Publicity Secretary of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association SM Faiz, former women affairs editor of Dhaka Reporter Unity Taapsee Rabeya Ankhi, former executive member Hasan Jabed, RTV assistant news editor Saikhul Islam Ujjal and others spoke in the programme.
Journalist communities have long been demanding repeal of the law, saying it has been curbing the freedom of press and freedom of expression.
