Unite to realise demands

Elderly journalist Kamal Lohani spoke at the meeting as the chief guest at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday with DUJ President Altaf Mahmud in the chair.

Speakers at the meeting said the country is now passing through a critical juncture where journalists are increasingly being subjected to torture.

Laws are underway to control the newspapers. Journalists should not tolerate the blueprint intended to gag the press.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and DUJ General Secretary Shah Alamgir also spoke.

Referring to the roles of the DUJ in anti-autocratic movements, he said, "We had earned our freedom by shedding our blood but the national flag of Bangladesh is seen flying on the car of Nizami who had opposed our War of Liberation.

Posing a question he said, "How many journalists will have to embrace death like Manik Shaha, Dipankar and Goutam?" We have to fight for our rights, he added.

Stressing the need for undivided union Iqbal Sobhan said the undivided union would play a pivotal role in realising our demands and establishing our dignity.

The voting will begin at 9:00am today at the same venue where about 1700 voters are expected to cast their votes.