The New Nation - Internet Edition

RU Correspondent

The working journalists of Rajshahi University (RU) campus on Friday called for revoking a set of rules circulated by the vice-chancellor of the university to be followed by them in the discharge of their professional duties.

RU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Altaf Hossain on Thursday sent a letter containing a set of rules to be followed by the university correspondents to the Rajshahi Press Club.

The rules numbering 22 said that journalists must avoid conflict relation among newspapers, file authentic report, mention source of news and be careful about corruption report.

The letter said that the working journalists of RU should follow these and other rules of the journalism profession.

After receiving the letter, the working journalists of RU campus met the RU vice-chancellor and sought clarification from him about the rules.

The VC told the journalists that they should follow the rules .At the same breath, he said " You can ignore the rules if you don't like them."

Correspondents of RU expressed their deep concern over the new rules issued by the vice-chancellor for the journalists and strongly protested the move.

Prof Abdus Salam, convener of Progressive Teachers Society, also expressed deep concern over the circulation of new rules for journalists saying that only the Press Council could circulate rules for journalists.

'RU VC has no right to circulate rules for journalists', he noted.

A good number of teachers of the university and senior journalists in Rajshahi city strongly protested the circulation of these rules.

They pointed out that these rules aimed at curbing the freedom of press

Earlier, on December 20, 2005, RU VC Prof Altaf Hossain threatened a group of journalists with punitive action including cancellation of studentship for filing reports against the university authorities.