BNP on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of the Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022 placed in parliament last month as the party thinks it will help the government gag the media and regulate its critics.

"A new law, the Mass Media Employees Bill 2022, is being enacted. The purpose of this law is to ensure no freedom of speech, no freedom of press and no democracy in the country,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at an iftar party, he also said the objective of the law is also to establish the government’s full control on it critics and on those who raise voice in favour of truth, democracy and people.

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If this law is passed, the BNP leader said the ‘state of control', that has been currently prevailing in the country will be reinforced. “We demand the withdrawal of this draft law.”

Pro-BNP faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) arranged the iftar party on the Jatiya Press Club premises.

On March 28 last, Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022 in Parliament.

Fakhrul called upon the journalists to get united putting aside minor differences and divisions among them and carry out a united struggle to protect their own and the media interests and to protect the rights of the people of Bangladesh and the freedom of press.

He alleged there is now no democracy in the country, freedom of speech, rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.

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“We have to wage a movement to restore all these things...let us all create public opinions to establish a truly people's government in the country through (holding a credible election under )a neutral government by ousting the current fascist regime.”