Dhaka, June 20 -- The Editors' Council on Saturday expressed deep concern over the arrest and imprisonment of 'Dainik Agrayatra Pratidin' Acting Editor Md Rezanur Islam in a case filed over a news report involving State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, calling the incident a threat to press freedom and freedom of expression.

In a statement, the council strongly protested the arrest, saying the incident contradicts the BNP's election manifesto and its 31-point state reform agenda, both of which pledge to uphold media freedom and the right to free expression.

The Editors' Council said there are existing legal and institutional mechanisms in the country to address grievances over any news re...