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Awami League General Secretary and Minister for Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader said if the BNP leaders play a responsible role by avoiding the path of conspiracy, the path of progress and prosperity of Bangladesh will be free from obstacles.
He said this in a statement given to the media on Monday. The bridge minister issued the statement condemning and protesting Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s traditional lies and far-sighted statements on freedom of the media.
Referring to the statement of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the freedom of media, Obaidul Quader said, “We call upon the BNP leaders to play a responsible role in the spirit of the great liberation war by avoiding lies and propaganda.” If you play a responsible role by avoiding the path of conspiracy, the path of progress and prosperity of Bangladesh will be free from obstacles. Otherwise you will have to face a serious disaster.
The development journey of the advancing Bangladesh under the leadership of successful statesman Sheikh Hasina is moving forward, will move forward. No one will be able to control us. ‘ He said Mirza Fakhrul was educating the nation about the freedom of the media. But every day detailed news of lies of BNP leaders is being spread in the media. Even their various programs are being broadcast live on television. The fabricated and baseless lies of the BNP leaders are being propagated in the media without any editing. The Minister for Road Transport said that lies and propaganda motivated by the BNP leaders in various programs including talk shows are being spread every day. Even then, they are raising absurd questions about the freedom of the media. We want to say in unequivocal language that the sky of freedom of media has been opened under the leadership of successful statesman Sheikh Hasina.
He said that now not only government television channels but also private televisions are enjoying the benefits of commercial broadcasting using Bangabandhu Satellite through Bangabandhu Satellite. At one time only government television channel BTV was electronic media in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina was the first to approve of private television and in its continuation, the unopened doors of mass media have been opened in the country today for the welfare of almost half a hundred private television channels and social media including online TV, IP TV.
The general secretary of the Awami League said that there are thousands of daily, weekly and monthly newspapers and numerous online news portals. Where news programs of all political parties are being published in detail. At the same time, the present government has taken steps to enact the ‘Media Workers Act’ to enhance the dignity and rights of journalists. However, during the BNP rule, the dignity and rights of journalists were considered under the Labor Act. In their time the minimum social status of journalists was not protected. During their time, 34 journalists, officials and employees of the state-run news agency BSS were unjustly fired at the behest of Hawa Bhaban.
He said that in the face of Mirza Fakhrul, the talk of freedom of media is nothing but ‘Ram name in the face of ghosts’. The BNP has gone bankrupt and lost its way after being convicted by a court of corruption and embezzlement of orphans’ money. The only weapon of the isolated BNP is lies and rumors. Obaidul Quader said the countrymen have not forgotten that during the BNP-Jamaat evil alliance regime (2001-2006) 18 journalists including BBC journalist Manik Chandra Saha, President of Khulna Press Club and Editor of Daily Janmabhoomi newspaper Humayun Kabir Balu were killed. At that time, there were more than 500 cases against journalists and 800 attacks. Leopold Bruno Sorrentino, a journalist for the British television channel 4, and several other foreign journalists, including Zeiba Malik, were arrested and tortured. Many motivated journalists were accused in the militant attack. Due to which ‘Reporter Without Borders’ declared Bangladesh as the most dangerous country in the world for journalists during the rule of BNP.
“We understand the plight of Mirza Fakhrul Islam,” he said. The people know what independence means to the BNP, which is burdened with political failure. The party founded in the hands of dictator Ziaur Rahman, who unconstitutionally seized power by declaring himself president illegally in a radio-television speech by holding media workers hostage at gunpoint, does not respect the freedom of media in the face of BNP leaders.
The bridge minister said that today they are talking about freedom of speech. Freedom belongs to those who behave responsibly and are aware of their duties. The BNP has always been abusing freedom of speech by spreading propaganda and rumors against the Awami League, a leading organization as a political party, and distorting the ‘history of the Great Liberation War’, the basic foundation of national unity.
Asking questions to the BNP leaders, Obaidul Quader said, “What has the BNP done to develop, improve and protect the welfare and interests of the journalists in this country while it is in power?” Rather, they have abused state power to stifle the development of the media and to silence journalists. The countrymen have not forgotten that.
