As many as 55 senior journalists have demanded a public apology from Mainul Hosein for hurling abuses at journalist Masuda Bhatti on live television.
Mainul, a former adviser to the military-backed caretaker administration, triggered a firestorm of anger and criticism since when he called Masuda a ‘debauchee’ in a talk show aired on Ekattor TV.
“We are expressing our grave concern over the incident. Mainul has no right to call someone ‘debauchee’ while responding to query and his behaviour was uncalled for,” they said in a statement on Saturday (Oct 20).
There has been an outpouring of anger on the social media about Mainul, one of the sponsors of the Dr Kamal Hossain-led new alliance with the BNP.
Over 100 female journalists and rights activists demanded on Wednesday that Mainul apologise publicly.
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, National Press Club President Md Shafiqur Rahman, Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, Daily Amader Natun Somoy Naimul Islam Khan, BSS Managing Director Abul Kalam Azad, ETV Editor-in-Chief and CEO Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, senior journalist Harun Habib, bdnews24.com Editor-in-Chief Toufique Imrose Khalidi, Daily Janakantha Executive Editor Swadesh Roy, Bangaldesh Pratidin Editor Naeem Nizam, Bhore Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Independent Television Editor-in-Chief and Chief Executive Shamsur Rahman, DBC Chief Editor Manzurul Islam, Ekattor Television Chief Editor Mozammel Haque Babu, GTV Editor-in-Chief Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Bangla Tribune Editor Zulfiqer Russell, PIB Director General Shah Alamgir and National Press Club General Secretary Farida Akter are among the journalists who signed the statement.