Masuda Bhatti is a Bangladeshi journalist who is currently a Commissioner of the Information Commission.[1] Bhatti was known for filing a defamation lawsuit against Barrister Mainul Hosein who is connected with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and editor of New Nation daily and Daily Ittefaq.[2][3]

Early life

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Bhatti was born in 1973 in Faridpur District.[4]

Career

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In 2007, Bhatti worked as a journalist based in London.[5] She worked as the executive editor of a weekly newspaper in London.[6] She had contributed to Ajker Kagoj, Janomot, Moscow Time, and Prothom Alo.[4]

Bhatti was working as a columnist in 2010.[7]

Barrister Mainul Hosein made insulting comments about Bhatti in a television show in 2018.[8] Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Kaisarul Islam sent Hosein to jail in October in nine defamation cases filed over the incident including one by Bhatti.[9] Hosein was sued under the Digital Security Act.[10]

In August 2023, Bhatti was appointed Information Commissioner of Bangladesh along with retired District and Sessions Judge Shahidul Alam Jhinuk.[11] She replaced Suraiya Begum.[11] They will serve under chief information commissioner Dr Abdul Malek.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Masuda Bhatti, Shahidul Alam Jhinuk appointed as new information commissioners". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  2. ^ "Bangladesh: Concerns Over Free Speech Continue With Opposition-Linked Lawyer's Arrest". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  3. ^ "Bangladeshi editor Mainul Hosein jailed on defamation charge". HW News English. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  4. ^ a b Ahmed, Faruque (2009-03-20). Bengali Journals and Journalism in Britain (1916-2007). Lulu.com. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-557-05113-7.
  5. ^ Ullah, Ansar Ahmed (5 May 2007). "Hague Conference Concern over violation of women's rights". The Daily Star. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  6. ^ Riaz, Ali (2004). God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. xii. ISBN 978-0-7425-3084-3.
  7. ^ "Feeling of insecurity among ethnic people increases to all-time high". The Daily Star. 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  8. ^ "Senior journos ask Mainul to apologise". The Daily Star. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  9. ^ "Defamation Suit: Mainul sent to prison". The Daily Star. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. ^ "Mainul sued under Digital Security Act". The Daily Star. 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  11. ^ a b "Masuda Bhatti, Shahidul Alam become information commissioners". Prothomalo. 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  12. ^ "Two information commissioners appointed". Dhaka Tribune. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.