Muhammad Ekramul Haque, editor and owner of Sheershanews.com and Sheersha Kagoj, was arrested on 31 July by Bangladeshi authorities on a charge of extortion. According to police reports, Haque allegedly threatened to negatively cover a travel agency unless he received 200,000 TK (£1630). In a press release, Sheershanews.com defended the editor, claiming that he was actually arrested for publishing reports on government corruption. The press release also denies the existence of the travel agency.