HC: A performing media helps state organs function properly

The High Court has said that a media that performs its duties properly helps the three state pillars -- legislature, executive and judiciary -- function appropriately. 

It also said that a functional media is the fourth pillar of the state.

The bench of Justice Md Ashraful Kamal and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir made the comments yesterday during the hearing of a writ petition challenging the legality of a mobile court verdict against Dhaka Tribune's Kurigram correspondent Ariful Islam. 

The High Court also asked the state to submit all documents related to Ariful’s one-year jail sentence and bail at the next hearing on March 23.

Also Read- HC: Submit all documents related to journo Ariful’s conviction, bail by March 23

Advocate AM Aminuddin filed the writ petition on Sunday.

During the hearing, Aminuddin said: "Journalists act as a mirror for society. They play a watchdog role by preventing many wrongdoings from happening. 

"If any of them [journalists] commit an offence, the court will give punishment. But not in this way [the process that Ariful went through]."

The court appreciated the immediate steps taken by State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain regarding the incident. 

It may be recalled that in the early hours of March 14, the mobile court set up at the DC's office in Kurigram had jailed Ariful, the district correspondent of Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune, for a year, after he was picked up from his home during a raid.

Officials involved in the drive claimed to have recovered drugs and alcohol from his residence, which his family termed as absurd.

Ariful, who was hospitalized after getting bail on Sunday, said he was tortured before and after he was picked up. The journalist said he was stripped and tortured blindfolded during the time he was kept at the DC office.