BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged journalists to get united under a single union putting behind the division to get rid of repression and restore their dignity.
“Journalists have to stand up with their heads high. There’re girls like Rozina Islam who’re trying to stand up tall facing fears,” he said.
Fakhrul came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal demanding the release of Prothom Alo senior reporter Rozina Islam and all the political prisoners.
The BNP leader said, “I would like to request journalists not to allow any division among themselves. We see there’re divided journalist unions and associations. So, their voices are not loud enough. You all get united and declare not to tolerate any repressive act against journalists. And then your dignity will increase gradually.”
He also called upon the journalists to speak the truth and call the spade a spade. “You shouldn’t bow down to greed. “You won’t be able to protect your community and the media if you only think about personal gains and protection.”
The BNP leader also urged people to make united efforts to protect the country and free it from the grasp of a ‘monstrous’ regime.
He said journalists could not wage a strong movement against the Digital Security Act, but many media workers are now falling victims to the repressive law.
He appreciated journalist Rozina for what he said exposing the official corruption through her investigative reports. “That’s why the government and the health ministry are angry with Rozina.”
“Rozina has been subjected to suffering for objective journalism. She’s not getting bail. Our leader Nipun Roy Chowdhury is also not granted bail as she had raised voice against irregularities?” the BNP leader observed.
He said the government also wants to teach Rozina a lesson by jailing her. “They also want to intimidate journalists through treating Rozina in this way so that they don’t write much against it. This is the character of a fascist. They want to scare all to suppress them.”
Fakhrul accused the government of destroying all the democratic institutions in the country by running the country depending on bureaucrats. “Bureaucrats are also now the leaders of the ruling party. They openly talk about running the country and they do politics.”
He alleged that the court is unlawfully making a delay in granting bail to Rozina in a billable case. “Filing cases against its opponents is a culture of the Awami League government.”
The BNP leader said Rozina’s arrest and harassment is not an isolated incident as 42 more journalists were killed earlier while journalist couple Sagar-Runi's killers have not been detected yet.
Fakhrul said the country is facing two devils--the Awami League government and the Coronavirus. “The Covid is ruining the entire world like a devil while the current regime is destroying Bangladesh's achievements like a monster.”