Hasan Mahmud
Bangladesh-India ties incomparable to any other relation: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said the level of relationship between Bangladesh and India is incomparable to that of any other country and relation with any another country won’t affect it.
The minister said this while talking to reporters at the ministry on Monday.
Bangladesh inked several cooperation documents with China during the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister on Sunday.
Also read: Fuel prices lower than neighbouring countries even after hike: Hasan Mahmud
When asked whether the visit will affect ties with India he said, “Our relationship with India is written in blood. India and its people’s assistance during our Liberation War will remain as long as Bangladesh exists.”
He said China is a friendly country to Bangladesh and is country’s development partner.
“They (China) have assistance in our development projects and their officials work in our country. We follow our foreign policy of ‘Friendship towards all, malice towards none’ and as a friendly nation China can make any proposal they want,” he added.
Regarding BNP’s reaction on fuel price hike Hasan Mahmud urged the party to look at global situation and abstain from the politics of misleading people.
Also read: Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives
“Last year the government provided subsidy of Tk 53,000 crore in energy and power sector. It is not possible for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to provide Tk 100 crore daily subsidy anymore and it is impossible for any other country,” he said.
“It takes a month or two to see the result after prices of fuel decline in global market. After that we will readjust the prices in our country,” said Hasan Mahmud.
Fuel prices lower than neighbouring countries even after hike: Hasan Mahmud
Even after the latest hike in fuel prices in Bangladesh it is equal to India and comparatively lower than the other neighbouring countries, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud.
He made the remark Saturday at a seminar marking Sheikh Kamal’s 73rd birth anniversary at Dhaka University.
Hasan Mahmud said the government provided a subsidy of Tk 53,000 crore or 6 billion dollar in fuel and power sector in the last fiscal year.
Also read: Fuel price hike: Passengers suffer as buses go off roads in capital
The neighbouring countries did not provide such subsidy and as a result they had to raise the fuel prices long before Bangladesh, he added.
“India has been selling diesel at Tk 114 per liter and octane at Tk 134-135 per liter which is the current price in Bangladesh. As our price was lower a huge amount of fuel was being smuggled to India through borders,” said the Information and Broadcasting Minister.
He said in India’s Kolkata current diesel price is Tk 114 per liter (as per local currency) while Tk 112 in allover India. “In China the diesel price is equal to Tk 118, in United Aram Emirates it is Tk 123, in Nepal it is Tk 127.82, in Indonesia Tk 138.24 and in Singapore Tk 189. 78,” said the minister.
Regarding the increase in transport fares he said, if there are 70% passengers in a 50-seated bus the fare will increase by Tk 0.29 per kilometer only.
Also read: Fuel price hike by govt just rubbing salt in wounds: BNP
“Currently, a passenger has to pay Tk 1.80 per kilometer which will increase by Tk 2.90. Soon the government will hold meeting with all concerned parties to ensure no one takes unfair opportunity of the fuel price hike,” said Hasan Mahmud.
Hasan Mahmud to BNP: Don't play with people's lives
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has warned the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) not to play with people's lives 'like before'.
The AL leader made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the distribution ceremony of fruits, vegetables and mustard seeds among the marginal farmers of Tungipara and Kotalipara at Tungipara upazila marking Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary on Friday, according to a media statement.
He said if BNP wants to create anarchy in the country in the name of the movement, it would be handled with an iron hand. Not only that, if they (BNP men) play with people's lives by throwing petrol bombs as they did in the past, then we will face them in the field next September because now we are mourning as August is the month of mourning.
He also said that the BNP gave speeches at home and protested in front of the press club. But there were more crows in the trees than there were people at the BNP protest, added the minister.
But we should remain careful because the BNP is basically plotting against the country.
Awami League's relief and social welfare affairs secretary Sujit Roy Nandi presided over the distribution programme while Awami League organizing secretary SM Kamal Hossain and Gopalganj district Awami League general secretary Mahbub Ali Khan spoke as special guests.
The minister distributed 15 types of vegetables, fruits and mustard seeds among 1 thousand farmers of Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas.
Read: Cry for fuel, electricity is a global reality: Hasan Mahmud
Earlier, the minister paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj marking the day.
In commemoration of Bangabandhu's eldest son Sheikh Kamal, he said Sheikh Kamal will remain alive among the people for ages, as long as Bangladesh exists, through his actions during his short span of life.
Sheikh Kamal could have played a great role in the country's culture and sports arena, above all in leading Bangladesh, said Hasan and prayed for the eternal peace of his departed soul.
Pak FM makes brief stopover at Ctg airport
Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari made a brief stopover at Chattogram airport on Wednesday.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud received the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka said in a Facebook post.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister made the stopover on his way to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to lead the Pakistan delegation at the 29th Ministerial Meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) being held from August 4 till August 6.
Read: PM Hasina greets Shehbaz Sharif
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen is in Cambodia to attend the meeting.
The two Ministers during the meeting also exchanged books of each other’s country as gifts.
The Pakistan Foreign Minister stayed for around 40 minutes at the airport, the Facebook post reads.
Cry for fuel, electricity is a global reality: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said power and fuel shortage has hit even the developed countries, not only Bangladesh.
The minister made the remark replying to a journalist’s question on BNP blaming load shedding and price hike in the country on the government’s corruption.
He said a country like Germany where power cut didn’t occur even for once after the Second World War has asked the people to ration electricity and use cold water instead.
He further said the US government has sent sms to public for maintaining austerity in power usage.
France and Australia are conducting daily load shedding for two hours while the Spanish prime minister has urged people not wear tie amid heat, claimed Hasan.
Read: Media should not publish unverified news: Hasan Mahmud
“The whole world is maintaining austerity in power usage as price of fuel used for electricity production has increased,” he said. “Price of LNG has increased tenfold,” he added.
He said Bangladesh is rationing electricity like the developed countries are doing but “We are hopeful by December the crisis will be over. BNP understands all these yet they make such accusations,” said Hasan.
About BNP’s remark on knocking off AL government through movement, the minister said, BNP failed to do so in the past.
“Trying again BNP will fall on the face and might crack their head,” he warned.
'BNP the main patron of communal evil force': Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is the patron of all communal evil forces in the country.
He also warned that those who patronise communal forces, give shelter and do politics with them, must be uprooted from the country.
The minister came up with the remarks while addressing a cheque-giving ceremony for three families of the 11 Hindu victims who were burnt to death during the BNP-backed government at Banshkhali upazila of the Chattogram in 2003. Tk45 lakh was handed over to the three.
Besides, Hasan Mahmud, also joint general secretary of the ruling Awami League (AL), handed over cheques to families of the victims in the Sitakunda BM Depot fire accident.
Read: BNP's statements outlandish, insane: Hasan Mahmud
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mominur Rahman chaired the programme that was also attended by local lawmaker from Banshkhali constituency Mostafizur Rahman, Chattogram city unit AL General Secretary and former city corporation Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin and Chattogram south district AL General Secretary Mufizur Rahman and among others.
Followed by the programme, Minister Hasan laid the foundation stone of a multipurpose building of Bangladesh Television Chattogram Centre.
Third gender community got recognition through Hasina in Bangladesh: Hasan Mahmud
It is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through whom the third gender community in Bangladesh got recognition which was non-existent priorly, said Information Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Hasan Mahmud.
He made the remark while distributing the PM's Eid gift among the third gender community and freedom fighters at a programme in Chattogram on Saturday.
“There were many people who held power but could not introduce the option to write third gender in government forms or passports. PM Hasina created quotas for them in many jobs and made specific allocations for them,” said Hasan Mahmud.
Also read: BNP's statements outlandish, insane: Hasan Mahmud
He said,”Even when their families don’t accept them, the PM has thought about them and she can be called the mother of the third gender community people.”
Hasan Mahmud said that today there are people of third gender doing jobs in higher positions in government offices and banks are giving them special incentives.
“Giving the third gender community priority in social safety nets are also being discussed. Bangladesh has never seen such development of the neglected and marginalized population that happened in the last thirteen and a half years,” he added.
After opening of Padma Bridge people are saying their Eid journey has become much more comfortable, he said.
Also read: Abandon those who want to make Bangladesh a communal country: Hasan Mahmud
“But BNP leaders are saying that people are suffering during the journey. Actually they are in a bad mood seeing people being fine,” said Hassan Mahmud.
Govt working to create database of journalists: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday that the Press Council was working to create a database of journalists with a view to bring fake journalists to book.
“Once the database is created, identifying oneself as a journalist will become tough. As a result, the number of fake journalists will drop,” said Hasan.
Hasan was speaking at a views exchange meeting with the Editors Forum at his ministry’s meeting room.
Also read: BNP's statements outlandish, insane: Hasan Mahmud
During the meeting, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Advisor of the Forum, said that journalists must work according to the spirit of the liberation war, while Rafiqul Islam Ratan, Convener of the Forum, said that there is no scope to air talk shows or news bulletins on the websites of newspapers or on online news portals according to the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973.
Leaders of the Editor’s forum submitted a 10-point memorandum to Hasan at the meeting. The demands include—refraining from providing government advertisements and supplements to and cancelling the registrations of irregular and weak newspapers, paying the outstanding advertisement bills, reorganizing the circulation-determining process of newspapers, not making unprofessional journalists the Editors of newspapers, designating VIP status to the members of the Editors Forum and enabling the Information Ministry to provide declarations to newspapers.
The Minister thanked the forum for agreeing with the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) that talk shows and news bulletins can’t be broadcast by newspapers.
“Newspapers can publish short videos with their news, not talk shows or news bulletins. The existing law prohibits such practice,” Hasan said.
Also read: Online news portals cannot legally broadcast talk shows, bulletins: Hasan Mahmud
Member Secretary of the Editor’s Forum Faruk Ahmed Talukder, Advisors of the forum Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, Sharif Shahabuddin and Belayet Hossain, and Members of the forum Dulal Ahmed Chowdhury, Mir Moniruzzaman, Mofizur Rahman Khan Babu, Rimon Mahfuz, Nazmul Alam Toufiq and Jagdish Chandra Sarker attended the meeting.
BNP's statements outlandish, insane: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said insane talk has become the habit of the BNP.
He said BNP leaders are talking topsy-turvy losing control over their mouths while countrymen are celebrating the opening of the Padma Bridge and slamming the conspirators who acted against the dreamt bridge.
The minister said this while answering the questions of the journalists at his Chattogram residence on Saturday.
Hasan Mahmud said BNP leader Rizvi Ahmed was missing for a few days during the gala inauguration ceremony of the much-awaited Padma Bridge. Suddenly, he comes out and speaks abnormally.
Also Read: Abandon those who want to make Bangladesh a communal country: Hasan Mahmud
“We had stood beside the people during any natural calamities in the country. Our leader (Sheikh Hasina) went to the disaster-prone areas immediately. But, BNP does not stand by the flood-affected people this year,” he said.
In response to a question about whether the government will take action against the conspirators of the Padma Bridge, the minister said a High Court verdict had asked to form a separate commission to find out the plotters of the Padma Bridge.
The government will consider the verdict to take action against the conspirators, he added.
Abandon those who want to make Bangladesh a communal country: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud urged the countrymen on Friday to desert those who are trying to turn secular Bangladesh into a communal nation.
Hasan Mahmud, also ruling Awami League’s Joint General Secretary, was speaking at the inauguration of this year’s Chariot Festival organized by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at Chattogram city’s Prabartak Intersection area.
Hasan said that festivals of many communities jointly form the Bangladeshi culture. The Chariot Festival is such a celebration. Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had created Bangladesh to free the people of this land from the poisonous air of communal hatred.
“Communal forces have tried repeatedly to damage the secular character of Bangladesh. Our government has always contained such forces with an iron hand. That’s why vested quarters couldn’t cause any damage during last year’s Durga Puja festival,” Hasan said.
Lamenting some opposition political parties, Hasan added that whenever the national election arrives, they start to spread the propaganda that the AL is a communal and anti-India party.
“Although these types of propaganda don’t work anymore,” Hasan added.
Read: Media should not publish unverified news: Hasan Mahmud
Mentioning the steps that the AL government has taken in recent years for the country’s Hindu community, Hasan said that the government has increased the allocation for Pujas and other Hindu festivals more than anyone has ever done.
He also said that more and more people from the Hindu community are getting government jobs nowadays, including in the police force, the army, the judiciary and the administration.
“The government has selected a Hindu as the Police Commissioner of Chattogram, which is the first of its kind in the country. Besides, the government had also chosen another Hindu person as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the recent past,” said Hasan.
Hasan also said that the current government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina is working round-the-clock to ensure equal rights and opportunities for people of every faith.