The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Some 700 journalists and columnists including both incumbent and former editors of a number of national dailies issued a joint statement yesterday demanding release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia by March 26.

They also demanded that other political prisoners be freed before Independence Day.

The signatories included Ataus Samad, advisory editor of Amar Desh, Hasanuzzaman Khan, former managing director of BSS, Shafik Rehman, editor of Jai Jai Din, Sadeque Khan, former PIB chairman, Amanullah, former managing director and chief editor of BSS, Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of News Today, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, editor of Khabar Patra, Amanullah Kabir, editor of Amar Desh, Akhtar Ul Alam, former advisory editor of the Daily Ittefaq, Alamgir Mohiuddin, editor of Naya Diganto, Abul Asad, editor of Daily Sangram, Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of Janakantha, Mofakkharul Anam, former managing director and editor-in-chief of BSS, Golam Tahabur, former AFP Dhaka Bureau chief, Mozammel Haque, BFUJ president, Ruhul Amin Gazi, secretary general of BFUJ, Shawkat Mahmud, president of National Press Club, Abdul Baten, chief editor of Dinkal, and Mostafa Kamal Majumdar, editor of The New Nation.

Demanding release of Khaleda before Independence Day, the statement said: "We are urging the caretaker government to release Khaleda Zia immediately."

Noting that there were myriad questions about the cases filed against Khaleda, the statement said: "Khaleda Zia has been granted bail by the High Court. She should be released immediately on humanitarian and rational grounds by the caretaker government to uphold political stability and justice."

The statement signatories simultaneously demanded the release of all political prisoners.

Urging the government to lift the state of emergency, they said, "We call upon the government to rescind all irrational, unnecessary and questionable laws under the emergency powers rules prior to lifting the state of emergency."