State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Choudhury on Thursday said the government is committed to eliminating the legacy of corruption and misrule across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Speaking as the chief guest at an introductory and views-exchange meeting of the Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), he said the government has taken responsibility for addressing widespread governance failures and corruption.
“There is misrule and corruption everywhere across the country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the BNP government has taken responsibility for removing this mess,” he said.
The meeting, held at the BFDC auditorium, was chaired by the corporation's Managing Director Masuma Tani.
Referring to controversies surrounding previous elections of the Film Artistes' Association, the state minister said the current government did not interfere in the election process and wanted artistes to elect their representatives independently.
“In the past, there were various allegations of irregularities over these elections. This time, the government ensured that artists could freely vote for candidates of their choice. As a result, there has been no controversy over the election,” he said.
He added that the government remained firm in ensuring a free, fair and neutral election, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting extended all necessary support to facilitate the process.
Responding to remarks by leaders of the Film Directors' Association regarding legal cases filed over elections, Yaser said the government cannot prevent anyone from seeking legal remedies.
“The government is the guardian of the rule of law. However, it is for you to decide whether you want to file cases against one another,” he said.
On the development of the BFDC, the state minister said the government must ensure responsible use of public funds and consider how investments can generate returns.
“We are custodians of the people's money. Unlike the previous government, we cannot spend public funds recklessly and push the country toward financial distress,” he said.
Citing the recently concluded FIFA World Cup, he said Bangladesh Television (BTV) acquired the broadcasting rights from FIFA at a cost of Tk 47 crore.
“Through active efforts, we have already managed to recover Tk 44 crore for the national exchequer. This is a rare achievement and an unprecedented example in Bangladesh,” he said.
He also alleged that the previous government had caused a loss of nearly Tk 100 crore in public funds while broadcasting an earlier FIFA World Cup.
Outlining future plans for the film industry, Yasser said the government is seriously considering producing films under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to help revive the country's film sector.
He said discussions with the BFDC are continuing to restore the film industry to its former glory, adding that the government remains committed to achieving that goal.
The event, conducted by Bangladesh Film Artistes' Association President Shiba Shanu, was also addressed by veteran artiste Ethun Babu, JASAS central convener Helal Khan, Film Directors' Association President Shaheen Sumon, Bangladesh Film Club President Samsul Alam and Film Artistes' Association General Secretary Joy Chowdhury, among others.