Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin on Monday claimed that the BNP has upheld freedom of speech throughout the country’s history.
“The BNP is a political party which has ensured freedom of speech at every stage of the nation's history,” he said while addressing a discussion arranged as part of the nine-day Zia Smriti Book Fair 2026 being held on the Bangla Academy premises.
The book fair was arranged by Zia Smriti Pathagar, marking the 48th founding anniversary of the BNP, beginning on September 3.
Mahdi said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we are witnessing a Bangladesh that enjoys unprecedented human rights, the rule of law, and freedom of speech.”
He also alleged that a specific political group is misusing freedom of speech to engage in falsehoods, smear campaigns, and the use of indecent, uncivilised language, violating all norms of decency for petty political gain.
“The law will certainly take its own course and initiate appropriate action against those who employ such indecent and uncivilised language in the name of freedom of speech,” the adviser warned.
He said nowadays many people speak at length about reform. “If there is any political party in the history of Bangladesh, which can be considered the architect and standard-bearer of reform, it is the BNP.”
Reflecting on BNP’s role in major reforms, Mahdi said through the historic 19-point programme of late President Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh witnessed a comprehensive blueprint for state reforms and restructuring of the state apparatus.
“Building upon that journey, the current momentum towards a new, prosperous, and self-reliant Bangladesh is being shaped in the light of Khaleda Zia’s historic 'Vision 2030' and the 27-point and 31-point programmes formulated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman,” he said.
Food Minister Afroza Khanam, Advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, MP, Mahmuda Habiba, MP, among others, spoke at the event with BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince in the chair.