Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) today sought more responsible role from international news agency like Reuters and all other media outlets in presenting news with regards to Bangladesh’s current political situation.
In a statement CMP said, a Reuters report titled “One Killed in Bangladesh as Hindu protesters clash with police” today has come to the notice of the CMP. The report subsequently was carried by many other media outlets at home and abroad including Voice of America.
The report was on the situation in and around the Chattogram court premises and its surroundings, centering the arrest and hearing on bail petition of Sanatan Jagaran Mancha leader Chandan Kumar Dhar alias Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
CMP statement said, “The Reuters report quoted Liaquat Ali Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Division of CMP as saying, “A Muslim lawyer defending Das was killed amid protests outside the court [in Chittagong]…”
Reuters made the report talking to neither Liaquat Ali, nor any police personnel working in Chattogram named Liaquat, the statement noted.
CMP said, “at the time of the yesterday’s incident in Chattogram, Liaquat Ali, Deputy Commissioner of CMP (south) was on duty to normalize the law and order situation in the surrounding areas including the court premises. Nobody from Reuters or any other media contacted him at that time.”
“There are four constables named Liaquat in Chattogram and none of them gave any statement to anyone,” CMP confirmed.
CMP said, Reuters report with fake quote of a police officer is ‘contrary to principles of journalism.’
CMP said, “We believe that in the future, Reuters and all media outlets will play a more responsible role in publishing such news.”
