Two Myanmar journalists Min Zayar Oo and Hkun Lat, held in Bangladesh on various charges, including violation of immigration law and suspected involvement in espionage, were released on Friday, according to a press release issued by Bangladesh embassy in Yangon yesterday. “Both the photojournalists were arrested in Cox's Bazar September 7 on various charges including violation of immigration law and suspected involvement in espionage. They had obtained tourist visa by hiding their identity,” read the release. Bangladesh allowed almost all journalists who expressed interest to visit Bangladesh in the last few weeks and issued appropriate category of visas in favour of them. Unfortunately, the two Myanmar journalists did not apply for right category of visa, rather preferred to hide their real purpose.

Bangladesh authorities have taken into consideration their antecedents, request from international media houses and plea from their family members while applying this flexibility.

Earlier, the government made special arrangement for their release by opening the court even at a weekend and without any guarantor for their bail. The Bangladesh court concerned considered their case with extraordinary leniency in spite of the gravity of charges that could have led to long-term imprisonment.

While Bangladesh welcomes international media to cover the unprecedented human catastrophe presently unfolding due to entry of forcibly displaced Rohingyas in hundreds of thousands from their abode in the Rakhine State, it expects that journalists and media persons will adhere to their professional ethics and obtain proper visa by honestly divulging their antecedents in order to avoid any such uncalled-for situation.