বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড)/৩৭
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| সাংবাদিকদের হরতাল | পাকিস্তান অবজারভার | ৩ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৬৩ |
Protest Cry Throughout Pakistan
JOURNALISTS STRIKE
Unprecedented in the history of Journalism. Journalists, newspaper, pres workers and other newspaper employees all over the country struck work and demonstrated on Monday to protest against the imposition of fresh curbs by the Government in the form of two Provincial Ordinances. There was no newspaper on Tuesday in the country.
From Khyber Pass to Chittagong in all principal cities slogan chanting black-flag-waving journalists held protest meetings and paraded city strects to raise their voice of indignation against the “black laws”.
In East Pakistan at the call of the East Pakistan Union of Journalists, Pressmen and all other newspaper workers observed the protest day and lent their wholehearted support to the four-point demands, namely-repeal of two press Ordinances of East and West Pakistan, revision of all existing Press laws, withdrawal of black-listing of three Dacca dailies and release of arrested journalists, which had earlier been formulated by the E. P. U. J. Committee of Action.
In Dacca the journalists and newspaper workers held a protest meeting at the Press Club, adopted resolutions and brought out huge procession.
The black-band-wearing demonstrators, visibly swayed by a fighting spirit, started assembling at the local Press Club much carlier than 9-30 a.m the scheduled time of the protest meeting.
Akram Khan speaks
In the assembly were Editors of local newspapers, among them was octogenarian Maulana Muhammad Akram Khan of Azad, the oldest living Editor in the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Mr. Justice Ibrahim, former Central Law Minister, came to the Press Club, the venue of the protest meeting, wore a black-band and expressed full support to the ‘fight against regimentation of thought’?
Maulana Muhammad Akram Khan set the tone of the day by his speech before the protest rally. Choked with emotion he said, ‘My age and failing strength requires me to lie in bed, but what is happening in the country compels me to rise and add my voice to your protest cry’.
He wondered if he would not after serving the profession of journalism for over 65 years under different regimes; breathe his last in a prison. ‘I shall not be unhappy to do so’; he declared.
Maulana Akram Khan said that the Press curbs were not shackles on the Press alone; these were ‘directed against the whole nation’.
The Maulana had a word of caution for the demonstrators. He said that there might be many provocations from many quarters. But we shall have to be constantly on guard against these and maintain peace at any cost.
He concluded by quoting from Tagore: ‘The more they tighten the fetters on us. The more these shall fall off. The more they redden their eyes, the more our eyes see into the things’.
Mr. Tafazzal Hossain, Editor, Ittefaq, who is also the Chairman of the IPI, Pakistan branch pointed out the Silver lining in the black clouds that hang ominously over the press and said that the unity that had been forged among the profession and industry of newspapers, consequent upon the injurics inflicted by the press curbs, indicated a bright future of the nation.
This conflict, he said; revolved round the life and death question of a free nation and not only the life and death of journalists and their profession. He said that the solid unity of journalists, newspaper employees and owners as demonstrated that day was the most effective shield of the freedom of Press.
Preparedness for protracted struggle.
Mr. Abdus Salam, Editor, the Pakistan Observer, said it was a day to take fresh oaths to be in the fight: for, this struggle would be long and protracted. The Government seemed to have closed its eyes and had prepared to go a long way with their doings he said and added, hence we will have to prepare ourselves to fight to the day we have achieved Press freedom.
The Chairman of the EPUJ Committee of Action, Mr. Sirajuddin Hossain, who presided over the meeting, thanked the striking journalists, newspaper employees and local Editors, for their participation in the day’s programme. He stressed the need for maintaining peace and discipline in the procession which was about to start.
Resolutions.
The meeting adopted the following resolutions: