“Anyone can definitely point out the mistakes made by the government. We think criticism is conducive to a democratic society. But blind criticism can never be helpful,” he said.
Mahmud, also joint general secretary of ruling Awami League, was speaking on an occasion at Chattogram Press Club that was organised to hand over cheques of financial assistance to journalists affected during the coronavirus crisis.
He noted that Bangladesh’s death rate from coronavirus is lower than that of India, Pakistan and countries of Europe and America. The death rate would be higher if the pandemic was not properly dealt with, he claimed.
“We’re trying to tackle the coronavirus pandemic with our limited capacity,” he added.
Riaz Haidar Chowdhury, vice-president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ); Ali Abbas, president of Chattogram Press Club; Quddus Afrad, president of Dhaka Union of Journalists; among others, spoke on the occasion while Chattogram Union of Journalists President Mohammad Ali was in the chair.