Janakantha owners sued amid allegations of takeover attempt, internal conflict

A group of former and current employees of Janakantha, a Dhaka-based Bangla daily, filed a case against the owners at Hatirjheel Police Station yesterday (2 August), BBC Bangla reports.

According to the report, the group also declared the newspaper's editor "unwanted" and announced the formation of their own editorial board. 

The internal dispute emerged following the dismissal of several staff members yesterday.

The controversy comes amid growing tensions in the media outlet after the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year. 

The employees involved in the protest were reportedly hired during the transitional period.

Janakantha editor and publisher Shamima A Khan has accused the group of conspiring to incite a mob and attempt an illegal takeover of the newspaper's premises last night. 

She named retired Major Afizur Rahman, chief operating officer of the Globe Janakantha Shilpa Paribar; Joynal Abedin Shishir, NCP joint convener and planning adviser of Janakantha; along with several journalists allegedly affiliated with BNP and Jamaat. 

Both Afizur Rahman and Joynal Abedin Shishir have denied to BBC Bangla the allegations of attempting a forceful takeover.

"The allegation of takeover echoes the narrative of the Awami League and Indian intelligence," Joynal Abedin Shishir told BBC Bangla. 

"We have not assumed ownership or taken over publication. We have simply formed a board to manage operations, a decision unanimously supported by all working journalists," Shishir said.