Amar Desh

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Amar Desh

Legal disputes

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The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and other organisations have said that the Awami League government has conducted "judicial harassment" against Mahmudur Rahman and his paper.{{cite news |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Yuan |first2=Farid |last2=Ahmed |title=Seeking war crimes justice, Bangladesh protesters fight 'anti-Islam' label |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/27/world/asia/bangladesh-protests/ |work=[[CNN]] |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=16 March 2013}}{{cite news |title=Ongoing judicial harassment against Mr. Mahmudur Rahman – BGD 001 / 0610 / OBS 075.3 |url=http://www.fidh.org/Ongoing-judicial-harassment,9477 |publisher=[[International Federation for Human Rights]] |date=8 April 2011 |accessdate=16 March 2013}} In 2010, [[Reporters Without Borders]] said that the Awami League party was "clearly unable to tolerate criticism from this opposition newspaper."{{cite web |url=http://en.rsf.org/opposition-daily-closed-force-used-02-06-2010,37648.html |title=Opposition daily closed, the force used to arrest editor |date=2 June 2010 |website=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |accessdate=15 March 2013 |archive-date=28 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428022857/http://en.rsf.org/opposition-daily-closed-force-used-02-06-2010,37648.html |url-status=dead}} In 2013, the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] issued a statement expressing concern about "the official harassment" of ''Amar Desh''.{{cite web |url=http://www.cpj.org/2013/04/bangladesh-harasses-staff-press-affiliated-with-am.php |title=Bangladesh harasses staff, press affiliated with Amar Desh |first=Bob |last=Dietz |date=16 April 2013 |website=[[Committee to Protect Journalists]] |accessdate=17 April 2013}}
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and other organisations have said that the Awami League government has conducted "judicial harassment" against Mahmudur Rahman and his paper.{{cite news |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Yuan |first2=Farid |last2=Ahmed |title=Seeking war crimes justice, Bangladesh protesters fight 'anti-Islam' label |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/27/world/asia/bangladesh-protests/ |work=[[CNN]] |date=1 March 2013 |access-date=16 March 2013}}{{cite news |title=Ongoing judicial harassment against Mr. Mahmudur Rahman – BGD 001 / 0610 / OBS 075.3 |url=http://www.fidh.org/Ongoing-judicial-harassment,9477 |publisher=[[International Federation for Human Rights]] |date=8 April 2011 |accessdate=16 March 2013}} In 2010, [[Reporters Without Borders]] said that the Awami League party was "clearly unable to tolerate criticism from this opposition newspaper."{{cite web |url=http://en.rsf.org/opposition-daily-closed-force-used-02-06-2010,37648.html |title=Opposition daily closed, the force used to arrest editor |date=2 June 2010 |website=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |accessdate=15 March 2013 |archive-date=28 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428022857/http://en.rsf.org/opposition-daily-closed-force-used-02-06-2010,37648.html |url-status=dead}} In 2013, the [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] issued a statement expressing concern about "the official harassment" of ''Amar Desh''.{{cite web |url=http://www.cpj.org/2013/04/bangladesh-harasses-staff-press-affiliated-with-am.php |title=Bangladesh harasses staff, press affiliated with Amar Desh |first=Bob |last=Dietz |date=16 April 2013 |website=[[Committee to Protect Journalists]] |accessdate=17 April 2013}}


The Awami League party revoked the license of ''Amar Desh'' on 1 June 2010. The [[Bangladesh Police]] arrested its editor, Mahmudur Rahman, and using police force closed down ''Amar Desh''. The High Court later reversed the government after 10 days, and ''Amar Desh'' was allowed to continue publication. Later, the Appellate Division denied the appeal.{{cite news |title=No bar to Amar Desh republication |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/07/18/no-bar-to-amar-desh-republication |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=18 July 2010 |accessdate=15 March 2013}} However, the Supreme Court sentenced Rahman to prison for contempt for a 10 May ''Amar Desh'' article, headlined, "Farce in the name of independent justice," for which he served 9 months, 17 days. The reporter Oliullah Noman was also sentenced to one month in prison and an additional Tk 10,000 or 1 more week in prison.{{cite news |title=Mahmudur jailed for contempt of court |url=http://ns.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=171085&cid=2 |newspaper=New Statesman |date=19 August 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822022831/http://www.newstatesman.com/newspapers/2010/08/court-bangladesh-amar-contempt |archivedate=22 August 2010 |accessdate=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Contempt of court: Amar Desh editor Mahmud jailed for 6 months Reporter Oli gets one month, publisher Hashmat fined |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=acff1af62d0f91f4be73f4857552d70c&nttl=201212193931 |newspaper=[[banglanews24.com]] |date=19 August 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615213843/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=acff1af62d0f91f4be73f4857552d70c&nttl=201212193931 |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=15 April 2013}} Noman said, "Though I have no idea about what was wrong with the report, I was jailed."{{cite news |title=Jail now possible for telling truth |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/10/01/jail-now-possible-for-telling-truth |newspaper=[[Bdnews24.com]] |date=1 October 2010 |accessdate=15 April 2013}} Hashmat Ali, the publisher, was fined Tk 10,000 or 1 week in prison.
The Awami League party revoked the license of ''Amar Desh'' on 1 June 2010. The [[Bangladesh Police]] arrested its editor, Mahmudur Rahman, and using police force closed down ''Amar Desh''. The High Court later reversed the government after 10 days, and ''Amar Desh'' was allowed to continue publication. Later, the Appellate Division denied the appeal.{{cite news |title=No bar to Amar Desh republication |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/07/18/no-bar-to-amar-desh-republication |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=18 July 2010 |accessdate=15 March 2013}} However, the Supreme Court sentenced Rahman to prison for contempt for a 21April ''Amar Desh'' article, headlined, "Chamber means stay for Government,”চেম্বার মানে সরকার পক্ষে স্টে”" for which he served 7 months, This report was written by the then special correspondent of the newspaper, Oliullah Noman.The reporter Oliullah Noman was also sentenced to one month in prison and an additional Tk 10,000 or 1 more week in prison.{{cite news |title=Mahmudur jailed for contempt of court |url=http://ns.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=171085&cid=2 |newspaper=New Statesman |date=19 August 2010 https://cpj.org/2010/08/editor-journalist-jailed-for-contempt-in-banglades/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822022831/http://www.newstatesman.com/newspapers/2010/08/court-bangladesh-amar-contempt |archivedate=22 August 2010 |accessdate=21 March 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Contempt of court: Amar Desh editor Mahmud jailed for 6 months Reporter Oli gets one month, publisher Hashmat fined |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=acff1af62d0f91f4be73f4857552d70c&nttl=201212193931 |newspaper=[[banglanews24.com]] |date=19 August 2010 |archive-
“In addition, on May 10, 2010, the Appellate Division sentenced editor Mahmudur Rahman to one day of imprisonment and fined him one taka for his commentary report titled ‘স্বাধীন বিচারের নামে তামাশা’
url=https://archive.today/20130615213843/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=acff1af62d0f91f4be73f4857552d70c&nttl=201212193931 |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=15 April 2013}} Noman said, "Though I have no idea about what was wrong with the report, I was jailed."{{cite news |title=Jail now possible for telling truth |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2010/10/01/jail-now-possible-for-telling-truth |newspaper=[[Bdnews24.com]] |date=1 October 2010 |accessdate=15 April 2013}} Hashmat Ali, the publisher, was fined Tk 10,000 or 1 week in prison.


On 11 April 2013, Bangladesh police again closed down the ''Amar Desh'' newspaper after Rahman's arrest for publishing materials from the Skype conversations,{{cite news |title=Amar Desh acting editor held, put on 13-day remand |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164395:amar-desh-acting-editor-held-put-on-13-day-remand&catid=129:frontpage&Itemid=121 |newspaper=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)]] |location=[[Dhaka]] |date=12 April 2013 |accessdate=12 April 2013}} but the ''Amar Desh'' was able to distribute a limited edition for the next three days in Dhaka, which led to a government raid on ''[[The Daily Sangram]]''.{{cite news |title=Amar Desh will resume publication after legal battle |url=http://www.clickittefaq.com/more-stories/amar-desh-will-resume-publication-after-legal-battle/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Ittefaq]] |date=16 April 2013 |accessdate=16 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511025008/http://www.clickittefaq.com/more-stories/amar-desh-will-resume-publication-after-legal-battle/ |archive-date=11 May 2013 |url-status=dead}} Magistrate Nasrin Sultana filed a suit against ''Sangram''{{'}}s publisher and editor Abul Asad Saturday for printing issues of ''Amar Desh''. In Bangladesh, the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1973 requires the printing of newspapers to be registered, and the government had sealed ''Amar Desh's'' printing office. Police searched the premises of ''Sangram'' in the late evening and confiscated over 6,000 copies of the ''Amar Desh'' and then arrested 19 workers. The court sent the printers directly to jail and denied their petitions for a remand and bail.{{cite news |date=14 April 2013 |title=Sangram Editor Sued (Update) |url=http://bdinn.com/news/sangram-editor-sued-update/ |newspaper=BDINN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819170329/http://bdinn.com/news/sangram-editor-sued-update/ |archive-date=2014-08-19 |accessdate=14 April 2013}}{{cite news |date=14 April 2013 |title=19 Amar Desh press staff sent to jail |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/19-amar-desh-press-staff-sent-to-jail/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]] |accessdate=14 April 2013 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715223754/http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/19-amar-desh-press-staff-sent-to-jail/ |url-status=dead}} Rahman's mother is the acting head at ''Amar Desh'' in Rahman's absence.{{cite news |title=Sangram Editor sued |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/14/sangram-editor-sued |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=14 April 2013 |accessdate=14 April 2013}} Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said ''Amar Desh'' could resume printing from another site once it had an order from Dhaka's magistrate.{{cite news |title=Amar Desh can be published from elsewhere |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/16/amar-desh-can-be-published-from-elsewhere |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=16 April 2013 |accessdate=16 April 2013}}
On 11 April 2013, Bangladesh police again closed down the ''Amar Desh'' newspaper after Rahman's arrest for publishing materials from the Skype conversations,{{cite news |title=Amar Desh acting editor held, put on 13-day remand |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164395:amar-desh-acting-editor-held-put-on-13-day-remand&catid=129:frontpage&Itemid=121 |newspaper=[[The Independent (Bangladesh)]] |location=[[Dhaka]] |date=12 April 2013 |accessdate=12 April 2013}} but the ''Amar Desh'' was able to distribute a limited edition for the next three days in Dhaka, which led to a government raid on ''[[The Daily Sangram]]''.{{cite news |title=Amar Desh will resume publication after legal battle |url=http://www.clickittefaq.com/more-stories/amar-desh-will-resume-publication-after-legal-battle/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Ittefaq]] |date=16 April 2013 |accessdate=16 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511025008/http://www.clickittefaq.com/more-stories/amar-desh-will-resume-publication-after-legal-battle/ |archive-date=11 May 2013 |url-status=dead}} Magistrate Nasrin Sultana filed a suit against ''Sangram''{{'}}s publisher and editor Abul Asad Saturday for printing issues of ''Amar Desh''. In Bangladesh, the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1973 requires the printing of newspapers to be registered, and the government had sealed ''Amar Desh's'' printing office. Police searched the premises of ''Sangram'' in the late evening and confiscated over 6,000 copies of the ''Amar Desh'' and then arrested 19 workers. The court sent the printers directly to jail and denied their petitions for a remand and bail.{{cite news |date=14 April 2013 |title=Sangram Editor Sued (Update) |url=http://bdinn.com/news/sangram-editor-sued-update/ |newspaper=BDINN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819170329/http://bdinn.com/news/sangram-editor-sued-update/ |archive-date=2014-08-19 |accessdate=14 April 2013}}{{cite news |date=14 April 2013 |title=19 Amar Desh press staff sent to jail |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/19-amar-desh-press-staff-sent-to-jail/ |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)]] |accessdate=14 April 2013 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715223754/http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/19-amar-desh-press-staff-sent-to-jail/ |url-status=dead}} Rahman's mother is the acting head at ''Amar Desh'' in Rahman's absence.{{cite news |title=Sangram Editor sued |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/14/sangram-editor-sued |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=14 April 2013 |accessdate=14 April 2013}} Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said ''Amar Desh'' could resume printing from another site once it had an order from Dhaka's magistrate.{{cite news |title=Amar Desh can be published from elsewhere |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/16/amar-desh-can-be-published-from-elsewhere |newspaper=[[bdnews24.com]] |date=16 April 2013 |accessdate=16 April 2013}}
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