by Sumon Corraya

The journalists are accused of writing a false story accusing the government of letting Indian troops into the country to contain domestic violence. Those arrested work for Bangla daily Inqilab, which openly backs Islamist party.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Bangladeshi police arrested four pro-Islamist journalists after they wrote a false story on the government and the recent general election.

In their article, they claimed that Indian troops helped Dhaka contain violence unleashed during the recent election.

"They published [. . .] sensational news that goes against the country's sovereignty despite being aware that it was false and baseless," Dhaka police spokesman Monirul Islam said.

The journalists arrested are Rabiullah Rabi, Mohammad Rafiq, Aitikur Rahman and Afzal Bari, all employed by Inqilab, a Bangla-language newspaper founded by notorious war criminal Maulana Abdul Mannan.

The paper's steering committee openly backs Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's main Islamist party, which has been responsible for serious acts of violence for over a year.

Police sealed the newspaper's headquarters, its printing press and computers.

Inqilab suspended its print publication today. The newspaper editor said in the online edition that they are 'sorry' for false reporting.

 

• bangladesh
• india
• inqilab
• newspapers
• reporters