Leaders of two factions of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BUFJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) yesterday threatened to wage a one-point anti-government movement if Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman was not freed before Eid.

"If the government does not free Mahmudur Rahman and withdraw the ban on the printing of daily Amar Desh and transmission of Diganta Television and Islamic Television before Eid, we will be compelled to launch the movement," said President of one BFUJ faction Ruhul Amin Gazi.

Addressing a views-exchange meeting with leaders of Dhaka Bar Association in the capital's Jatiya Press Club, he also declared to hold a rally of journalists in Dhaka on September 14 protesting the government's "intolerance of media and its staff”.

Gazi said the government was making a mockery of press freedom by claiming that the media was enjoying freedom while keeping some media houses, including Amar Desh, closed.

Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed read out a written statement describing the alleged torture and injustice perpetrated on Mahumudur during remand.

"Mahmudur Rahman is now suffering inhuman torture and languishing in jail for writing against the government's corruption and injustice," he claimed.

He also alleged that the government intentionally kept the daily's press closed and influenced the judiciary from giving any directive in this regard.

Former Dhaka Bar Association president Sanaullah Miah urged the government to refrain from influencing the judiciary, stating that only then will people like Mahmudur get bail.

The High Court yesterday issued a rule upon the government to explain in two weeks why its action to obstruct printing and publishing of the daily from an "alternative press" should not be declared illegal.

Dhaka Bar Association General Secretary Khorshed Alam spoke at the meeting.