Expressing deep concern, the Editorial Board said yesterday that press freedom in the country continues to be attacked by certain sectors of society despite the interim government’s promises to maintain it.

Some of the country’s major print media offices have faced threats of assault and siege, according to a press release issued by council president Mahfuz Anam and secretary-general Dewan Hanif Mahmud.

Newspapers such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have requested protection from the authorities, according to the statement, noting that security agencies have responded quickly to the call.

“One of the main promises of the new Bangladesh that emerged from the popular uprising of August 5 was to guarantee freedom of the press. This has been repeatedly affirmed by various sectors of the interim government,” the statement read.

The Board of Editors emphasized that if anyone objects to any news or editorial stance of a newspaper, they can express their views through intellectual discourse and writing.

“The attempt to silence the media through threats is simply a repetition of undemocratic practices of the past,” the statement read.

The council strongly condemned attempts to disrupt the environment of independent journalism and urged the government to take a firm stance and clamp down on collective justice against all institutions, including the media.

He also called on all parties to refrain from actions that infringe on press freedom.

This call was made during a Board of Editors meeting at The Daily Star office.

The meeting was attended by Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, New Age editor Nurul Kabir, Ajker Patrika editor Golam Rahman, Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid , Jugantor editor Saiful Alam, Ittefaq editor Tasmima Hossain, Banik Barta editor. and editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Sangbad editor Altamash Kabir, Dhaka Tribune editor Zafar Sobhan, Desh Rupantor editor Mostafa Mamun and Sangbad executive editor Shahriar Karim.