The Mymensingh district administration has cancelled the publication declarations of 11 newspapers published from the district. The cancellation order was issued last Thursday, and official letters were delivered to the concerned publishers and editors on Sunday and Monday, according to the administration.

The newspapers whose declarations have been revoked are:

Dainik Ajker Mymensingh (edited by Md. Shamsul Alam Khan), Dainik Desher Khobor (edited by F.M.A. Salam), Dainik Bishwer Mukhopatra (edited by N.B.M. Ibrahim Khalil Rahim), Dainik Ishika (founded by the late Abdur Razzaq Talukder), Dainik Adommo Bangla (edited by Nasir Uddin Ahmed), Dainik Alokito Mymensingh and Dainik Digonto Bangla (edited by A.N.M. Faruk), Dainik Jahan (published by Sheikh Mehedi Hasan Nadim), Dainik Kishaner Desh (edited by Omar Faruk), Hridoye Bangladesh (edited by Farida Yasmin Ratna), Saptahik Poridhi (edited by Bikash Roy).

On Monday (October 13) afternoon, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Mymensingh Umme Habiba Meera confirmed the cancellation, stating that letters were sent to all concerned editors and publishers last Thursday.

According to the official notice, on April 10 and 13, the 11 newspapers were found to have published identical reports and images on the second and third pages, and those issues were not printed from approved printing presses. Consequently, on April 16, the administration issued show-cause notices to 13 editors and publishers.

On April 21, the publishers responded, admitting the error and blaming the issue on an external printing press’s negligence and a breakdown in their own printing system. However, the explanations were deemed unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

Subsequently, on May 18, an executive magistrate conducted an on-site investigation, which confirmed that the 11 newspapers were not being printed from authorized presses—a clear violation of Sections 4 and 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973. As a result, their declarations were cancelled under Section 10 of the same law.

When contacted, Abdul Halim, acting editor of Dainik Alokito Mymensingh, said, “I haven’t yet received the official letter about the cancellation of my paper’s declaration. I’m looking into it and will decide on the next steps once I have full information.”

ADC Umme Habiba Meera reiterated that the cancellation followed due process, stating that from March 30 to April 13, the newspapers repeatedly published identical content on pages two and three, which violated the Printing Presses and Publications Act, 1973. Therefore, their declarations were lawfully revoked under Section 10 of the Act.