CHATTOGRAM:
A group of journalists and civil society members in Chattogram staged a demonstration on Saturday, hurling shoes at a poster of Bangladeshi film actress Pori Moni to demand a boycott over her alleged misconduct toward a media professional.
The protest rally was organized in front of the Chattogram Press Club on Saturday (November 7) following an incident involving Samakal multimedia journalist Rabiul Hossain Raju.
Addressing the demonstration, speakers emphasized that journalists play a critical role in bringing objective facts to the public. They argued that any attempt to hinder media personnel from freely gathering and reporting news compromises both press freedom and the public's right to information.
"Insulting a journalist is not merely an offense against an individual; it is an attack on the independence of the press," one speaker noted, adding that celebrity status does not place anyone above accountability or professional standards.
Representatives from the Journalist Development Council also attended the rally, issuing a strong condemnation of the actress's behavior and urging journalists nationwide to unite against such incidents. The event concluded with demonstrators throwing shoes at a banner bearing Pori Moni's image.
The protest stems from an incident on November 5 at the Dhaka court premises, where Pori Moni allegedly confronted and mistreated Raju shortly after securing bail.