Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the biggest weakness of BNP leaders is that they are not able to differentiate between political activists and terrorists.

"There is a difference between terrorist activities and political activities. BNP’s activities are based on terrorism and they do terrorism in the name of politics. That's where the problem lies,” the information minister said while replying to a question from journalists after a book unveiling ceremony at the Secretariat on Monday.

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Responding to a question from the journalists regarding BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul’s recent comments, Hasan Mahmud said: “The government is not committing atrocities on anyone. But those who carried out arson, attacked the police and are still doing it, those who are still vandalizing cars on the streets under the leadership of Mirza Fakhrul, action should be taken against them.”

The minister also addressed the recent drive against unregistered IPTV and cable TV across the country and said those unregistered IP and Cable TVs are engaged in various illegal activities including extortion.

"According to the broadcasting policy, IPTVs and random YouTube channels cannot broadcast news, yet they are doing it illegally,” he said.  

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"The ministry has directed the district commissioners to conduct raids in this regard and take action against those who do not have valid licenses and those who are involved in extortion and other malpractices.”

Ambitious budget for public welfare

Replying to a question from journalists on the occasion of the budget for the next fiscal being passed in parliament, Dr Hasan said the Awami League government passes ambitious budgets for the welfare of the people and implements them as well.

The size of the budget has increased compared to last year, despite facing the major challenges in the context of the War in Ukraine and the ongoing global recession, he pointed out. He also hoped that the government will be able to implement this year’s budget as well if they get reelected.

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Referring to CPD, TIB and BNP’s observation and comments surrounding the government’s “ambitious budget,” Hasan said: “In the last 14 years, the average rate of budget implementation has been 97 percent which would be close to 98% if there was no pandemic. In other words, our budgets have always been implemented properly. Again, the fact that the poverty rate has come down from 41 percent to 18 percent is proof that it has worked for poor people.”