The journalists from Kushtia surrendered to the Court on July 23 and were granted interim bail by Justice Abdur Rashid and Justice M Fazlur Rahman of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court after they pleaded innocent to the charges and argued the case was politically motivated.

The journalists are Gazi Mahbub Rahman, editor of local daily Ajker Alo, and Acting Editor Jamaluddin Haidery; Tariqul Huq Tariq, correspondent of daily Prothom Alo, Shamsul Alam, correspondent of Ajker Kagoj, and Hassan Zahid, staff correspondent of Manabzamin.

The journalists told The Daily Star that they have taken refuge in the capital, leaving their working place for more than one week, fearing assaults.

"The IFJ stands in solidarity with the five Bangladeshi journalists and demands the criminal charges against them be immediately dropped," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

"This case must not be used as a political tool to punish journalists who have uncovered corruption and are critical of the government: if this was to happen it would completely undermine the rights of a free press," Warren said in the IFJ website.

The journalists were falsely implicated in extortion charges by BNP lawmaker Shahidul Islam, after they published a story reporting on corruption within Shahidul's cadres, the release added.

The court granted the journalists interim bail of three months and asked the government to show cause why they should not be allowed ordinary bail.

On July 23, two of the bailed journalists along with five others filed a general diary against MP Shahidul Islam and his cadres after the journalists were threatened with death following a report which revealed BNP men had attacked and injured 50 protesters at a rally on July 13.

"The government must ensure the security of journalists in order to guarantee protection of press freedom in the country," Warren said, adding, "The IFJ demands that journalists should be able to operate in an environment free from intimidation, and the courts must protect this right."

An IFJ report Courage and Censorship: Journalists and Press Freedom in South Asia 2004-2005, revealed, Bangladesh to be one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Asia because they were targeted for reporting on the country's pervasive corruption, political violence and organised crime.

From May 2004 to May 2005, 6 journalists were killed, 320 tortured, 55 injured in assaults and 405 received death threats, the IFJ press release said.