{{Short description|Bangladeshi journalist}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Masuda Bhatti | native_name = মাসুদা ভাট্টি | native_name_lang = Bengali | image = | caption = | birth_date = 1973 | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Journalist | spouse = | office = Information Commission | predecessor = | successor = | term_start = 24 August 2023 | term_end = 20 January 2025 | parents = }}
'''Masuda Bhatti''' (born 1973) is a Bangladeshi journalist who was a Commissioner of the Information Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Masuda Bhatti, Shahidul Alam Jhinuk appointed as new information commissioners |url=https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/masuda-bhatti-shahidul-alam-jhinuk-appointed-as-new-information-commissioners/120874 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=unb.com.bd}}</ref> She was removed from her post on 21 January 2025 after allegations of serious misconduct against her were proven.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Masuda Bhatti removed from post as information commissioner |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/f51948d4014d |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=bdnews24.com |language=en}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh: Concerns Over Free Speech Continue With Opposition-Linked Lawyer's Arrest |url=https://thewire.in/south-asia/bangladesh-free-speech-mainul-hosein-arrest |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-23 |title=Bangladeshi editor Mainul Hosein jailed on defamation charge |url=https://hwnews.in/international/bangladeshi-editor-hosein-jailed/61464/ |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=HW News English |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life == Bhatti was born in 1973 in Faridpur District.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Ahmed |first=Faruque |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AoV0AgAAQBAJ&dq=Masuda+Bhatti&pg=PA167 |title=Bengali Journals and Journalism in Britain (1916-2007) |date=2009-03-20 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-0-557-05113-7 |pages=167 |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== In 2007, Bhatti worked as a journalist based in London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ullah |first=Ansar Ahmed |date=5 May 2007 |title=Hague Conference Concern over violation of women's rights |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/05/05/d70505060274.htm |access-date=5 September 2023 |website=The Daily Star}}</ref> She worked as the executive editor of a weekly newspaper in London.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Riaz |first=Ali |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4w1kq_A4oCEC&dq=Masuda+Bhatti&pg=PR12 |title=God Willing: The Politics of Islamism in Bangladesh |date=2004 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7425-3084-3 |pages=xii |language=en}}</ref> She had contributed to Ajker Kagoj, Janomot, Moscow Time, and Prothom Alo.<ref name=":0" />
Bhatti was working as a columnist in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-16 |title=Feeling of insecurity among ethnic people increases to all-time high |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-130316 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
Barrister Mainul Hosein made insulting comments about Bhatti in a television show in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-22 |title=Senior journos ask Mainul to apologise |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/politics/news/talk-show-abuse-55-editors-journalists-call-upon-barrister-mainul-hosein-sorry-publicly-masuda-bhatti-ekattor-tv-1649911 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-24 |title=Defamation Suit: Mainul sent to prison |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/barrister-mainul-hosein-produced-before-dhaka-court-1650781 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Hosein was sued under the Digital Security Act.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-25 |title=Mainul sued under Digital Security Act |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/barrister-mainul-hosein-sued-under-digital-security-act-2018-1651288 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2023, Bhatti was appointed Information Commissioner of Bangladesh along with retired District and Sessions Judge Shahidul Alam Jhinuk.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=Masuda Bhatti, Shahidul Alam become information commissioners |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ormks97pgt |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Prothomalo |language=en}}</ref> She replaced Suraiya Begum.<ref name=":1" /> They will serve under chief information commissioner Dr Abdul Malek.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 August 2023 |title=Two information commissioners appointed |work=Dhaka Tribune |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/323448/two-information-commissioners-appointed |access-date=5 September 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhatti, Masuda}} Category:Living people Category:Bangladeshi journalists Category:Information commissioners of Bangladesh Category:1973 births Category:People from Faridpur District Category:Bangladeshi newspaper editors