Malicious journalism against Al Jazeera

Newspapers in all countries at times deserve serious criticism - look no further than the Leveson inquiry in the UK for examples - but in an article written about Al Jazeera and its correspondent here in Dhaka, a national Bangla language newspaper reached rather close to the bottom as far as journalistic practices are concerned.

In this incident, it is not just the newspaper itself that deserves criticism. Also worthy of censure is the devious role that the Bangladesh 'intelligence' agencies (is there a word less appropriate, I wonder) who intentionally used the newspapers to get published totally untrue and malicious stories. Apparently, journalists from a number of different papers including Daily Star got calls from this agency with this 'story' and ignored them.

It is, though, only Daily Jonokhonto (and Bhorer Kagoj to a lesser extent) that need to hang their heads in shame. Of course, the fact that a number of papers clearly decided not to run the article is a positive sign,

So what is it all about. Here is an approximate translation of part of the front page article in Daily Jonokhonto (original article is here). Do remember as you read it, there is barely a single accurate sentence:

"To stop the trial against the war criminals, Jamaat has taken a new strategy. They have spent a huge amount of money to bring foreign journalists in Dhaka. In the meantime, a journalist of Aljazeera has come to Dhaka to interview top war criminal Golam Azam. That journalist has fixed the time of his interview with Golam Azam. The interview will be taken tomorrow (Wednesday).  An influential intelligence agency has confirmed the news.

An official of that influential intelligence agency told that a journalist of Aljazeera television has arrived in Dhaka few days ago. He is here to accomplish a special assignment. His name is Nicolas Haque. After arriving in Bangladesh, he took a mobile phone connection from Grameen Phone. Journalist Nicolas already talked to some of the Jamaat leaders. It is known that, several reports will be made to change public opinion around the world to protect the top war criminals who are also engaged in the crimes against humanity.  Interview of Golam Aazam will one of the reports among all. The highest level of the government was also informed about it. But the journalist of Aljazeera has fixed everything to interview Golam Azam. He also talked to arrested Golam Azam in the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medical University. An intelligence report has also been submitted to the highest level of the government. Prime minister’s office is also informed about this matter. It is not known yet what steps will be taken from government’s side?

Source said that he would interview Golam Azam in connivance with some officials of Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman medical university and also with some police personnel. If government stops the reporter of Aljazeera, he will broadcast it widely saying that the trial is NOT going on fairly and transparently. Source said that Jamaat would then bring other influential news media of the world in Dhaka by offering huge amount of money. If government allows the interview of Golam Azam, his lies about the trial process of the government will be broadcast all over the world. For that reason, government is confused and facing troubles."

The inaccuracies in this story include:

• Nicholas Haque is the Al Jazeera correspondent based in Dhaka, so he certainly cannot be paid to come to Dhaka. He has already been here for a few years.
• He has never intended to interview Gholam Azam - but rather his son;
• There was nothing secret at all about him setting up or undertaking this interview. It is just part of normal journalism. He was doing a piece on Azam's detention; in such circumstances it is quite reasonable to seek to interview a family member of a detained person.
• The reports stated thatL 'It is known that, several reports will be made to change the public opinion of the people around the world to protect the top war criminals who are also engaged in the crimes against humanity.' I am sure the Al Jazeera correspondent is flattered by his potential influence, but doing a report on Gholam Azam's detention is a perfectly newsworthy subject which can be made without having any motivated agenda. 
• It would be nice also if Jonokhonto understood the concept of innocent until proved guilty, even for those accused of war crimes.

One thing that the article did get right is that he has a Grameen Phone connection. But this is apparently an account he has had since coming to Bangladesh, some years ago! 

I have no idea what will be the content of Al Jazeera's piece  on Gholam Azam, but I would be pretty certain that it will be a balanced piece of journalism.

Clearly what has happened here is that the agencies tapped the phone of Azam's son, heard Nic trying to make an appointment to meet him, and decided to spin the story of Nic, newly arriving in Dhaka, setting up an illegal interview with Gholam Azam, as part of a Jamaat conspiracy to spend lavish amounts of money to bring in foreign journalists.

Sounds great. Such a pity that there is not an iota of truth to it!

This could be a rather amusing story, perhaps. But there is a serious side to this. It is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists in Bangladesh to undertake independent journalism on the International Crimes Tribunal; journalists who write articles considered 'off message' by the current establishment, are routinely being labelled 'pro-Jamaat' or 'pro-war criminal'.

That is not the right atmosphere to ensure that a fair trial takes place.

And please .... Bangladesh intelligence agencies, stop using the media to plant stories, and newspapers stop printing them.

11 Dec 2011: Charges against Nizami etc

Prior to the start of the cross examination of witness one, which is dealt with in the next post, the prosecution gave to the tribunal copies of charges against Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.

The tribunal chairman then passed this order:

'Today is fixed for filing formal charge with respect to Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Qader Molla. Learned Chief Prosecutor submitted that they have completed preparation of formal charge regarding Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, but they could not complete the task regarding Abdul Qader Molla. They prayed for some time to submit the formal charge. Upon consideration of the fact that they have submitted formal charge and documents regarding Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, the time may be extended up to 18/12/2011 for consideration of the cognisance matter regarding the three accused. Prosecution is directed to submit formal charge regarding accused Abdul Qader Molla also by that date, i.e. 18/12/2011. The accused persons are to be presented on that date.'

Abdur Razzaq, the head of the defence team, then rose and showed a copy of a newspaper report where the law minister Shafique Ahmed was reported on Saturday as stating that 'the ICT was prosecuting only those who killed three million people and raped 200,000 women during the 1971 Liberation War on the charges of committing crimes against humanity.'

Razzaq drew the tribunal’s attention to the reports and wanted to know whether the law minister, holding such a responsible position, could make such comments on a matter now under trial before the ICT.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Nizamul Haque, responded by saying that, ‘You've brought a very important matter before us… We also go through daily newspapers and watch TV talk shows over the trial of the war crimes. .... Not only the ministers, but others are also making unsubstantiated comments at different programmes including television talk-shows. You, the defence counsels are also making frequent comments. The media are publishing and airing incorrect reports.’

He said that judges often see media reports where their orders are noted and quoted with some comments like, “Three petitions were filed and rejected as usual”. Most of the time tribunal chooses to ignore these reports, he said. He said that many of the defence applications have been accepted by the tribunal. 'We can only say we are sorry that many lawyers have made comments on newspaper.' He said that one of the leaders of this bar has commented outside, about the judiciary of this tribunal. 'We are keeping ourselves mum.' He said that, 'We can say we don’t like this. This is unheard of. We are an independent tribunal, duty-bound and oath-bound and we will act fairly. Thank you for that. 'You can comment on the order, you can question the tribunal, ……but don’t touch the judge. This should be maintained in press too. We want to avoid these things. We want to say something but we restrain ourselves. Both sides should restrain themselves about passing comment which may give different signals.'

Abdur Razzak said that he had done his duty and hope this kind of comment will not be mad in the future.

Razzak then mentioned an order passed on 16/5/2011 and another on 1/10/2011 regarding transport facilities to be given to his client Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. He said that 'we want a health-friendly vehicle. We have sent letter to Deputy Commissioner and Police Super. The jail super has tried but his hand is tied by the police authority.'

The chairman responded by saying that with a change in district, there a change in security but not sure whether vehicle is changed as well. 'He should be given a vehicle so that he doesn’t become further sick,' he said.