Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) will stage demonstrations in the capital and other parts of the country today to protest the 'fascist' behaviour of the government that forced the union leaders to cancel a national convention against repression on journalists.

In Dhaka, journalists will stage a sitin in front the Jatiya Press Club at 11:00am and similar demonstrations will also be held at other press clubs across the country, BFUJ leaders said at a press conference yesterday.

BFUJ was scheduled to hold the National Convention against Repression on Journalists, Terrorism and Militancy at the Institute of Diploma Engineers (IDE) in the city today. But, they were forced to postpone the convention as IDE authorities, under direction of the National Security Intelligence, cancelled the booking of the auditorium for convention for security reasons of the Saarc summit in Dhaka.

Leader of the Opposition Sheikh Hasina was supposed to attend the convention as chief guest while prominent political leaders from different opposition parties and civil society members were also invited at the daylong convention.

BFUJ leaders said a fresh schedule of the national convention would be announced shortly.

Addressing the press conference at its office at the Jatiya Press Club, BFUJ President Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the attitude exposed 'undemocratic' behaviour of the government.

He said, “As the convention was against repression and killing of the journalists and families of slain journalists were supposed to be there, the government has proved that they were the patrons of the repression.”

He said the BFUJ booked the venue for the convention on October 18.

“But, all on a sudden, the government, in the name of security reason, cancelled the venue just 30 hours ahead of the convention without giving us any notice though it was not under the purview of security areas for the Saarc Summit,” he said.

BFUJ secretary general Monjurul Ahsan Bubul also criticised the government's interference and said, “Journalists are not miscreants. They do not create any security hazards or anarchy.”

“It is also a new form of repression and a threat to people's democratic practices,” he said.

Govt clarifies

Bss, Dhaka

The government yesterday said its attention has been drawn to press reports on the postponement of a convention organised by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).

In a clarification, the government said it wants to make it clear that the scheduled venue -- the auditorium of Diploma Engineers Institute -- is located inside the 'highly security zone' earmarked for smooth holding of the 13th Saarc summit.

The government, therefore, did not want to take any risk as the convention would be largely attended, including leader of the opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad Sheikh Hasina, which might create security hazards, said an official handout.

There was no political intention behind the postponement of the convention as a number of functions of different social organisations has also been postponed considering the area as the 'high security zone,' the handout said.