The Shampadak Parishad (Editors’ Council) on Sunday in a statement expressed concern over incidents of editors and reporters being called up by different government agencies seeking explanation of news published.

The council considers ‘such practices to be against the freedom of the media and demands that they be stopped forthwith’.

The council came up with the remarks in a meeting held at the Daily Star Centre on Sunday where serious concern was expressed at the security threat against Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagaj.

It also was concerned over the issuance of arrest warrant against Shyamal in a defamation case.

The council also expressed concern at the frequent issuance of arrest warrants and summons against editors and reporters, especially to those working in the districts, mostly on flimsy grounds, a press release of the council says.

The Parishad observed that of late different agencies have been calling editors and reporters and seeking explanation for published news items.

"The Parishad considers such practices to be against the freedom of the media and demands that they be stopped forthwith," reads the statement.

Golam Sarwar, Mahfuz Anam, Tasmima Hossain, Reazuddin Ahmed, Khandaker Muniruzzaman, Shyamal Dutta, Nayeem Nizam, Zafar Sobhan, Dewan Hanif Mahmud, AHM Moazzem Hossain, Matiur Rahman, Alamgir Mohiuddin and lmdadul Haq Milan issued the statement.