http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=95650
BANGLADESH: HC asks Shirsho Kagoj editor, reporter to reveal sources 'Shirsho Kagoj' editor and reporter fear disclosing source's identity undermines journalism profession The Daily Star Wednesday, August 6, 2008 The High Court (HC) yesterday again directed the editor and a reporter of the weekly Shirsho Kagoj to reveal the sources of a report headlined "A High Court judge whitens black money" by affidavit by August 11. During the hearing of a suo moto rule issued earlier by an HC bench upon the journalists, the HC bench of Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice Md Abu Tariq issued the order on the Shirsho Kagoj Editor Ekramul Huq and reporter Nasrin Akhter. Advocate Manzill Murshid, counsel for Ekramul Huq and Nasrin Akhter, told The Daily Star that the HC issued the direction as it needs the information to complete the trial proceedings of the rule. He also said that the HC had also earlier asked the journalists to reveal the sources of the report, but they informed the court by affidavit that they could not do so for the greater interest of the journalism profession. "If the sources of the report are disclosed, the journalism profession will be affected as the sources will not provide information to reporters. As a result, the people will be deprived of the right to information," he said quoting from the statements of the journalists. The weekly published the report on January 7 this year. Following the publication of the report, an HC bench issued a suo moto contempt rule against 18 journalists on January 10 and asked them to reveal the sources of the report. Date Posted: 8/6/2008
