Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (November 02, 2023) urged the country’s journalists to expose the real face of the BNP before the international community as the opposition party’s activists swooped on the media persons who were covering their October 28 rally. “You, journalists, should expose internationally the real character of those who attacked you while performing duty,” she said. The premier was addressing the Delegates Conference-2023 of BFUJ-Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists at the National Press Club in the city. Noting that the anti-liberation forces have no right here in Bangladesh, she said, “Those who believe in terrorism and militancy have no right here. They don’t want the welfare of the people of this country and they are foes of the people.” The PM said the attackers of journalists and police must pay as some 30 journalists were injured in the attacks carried out by BNP men on October 28 last. Read more: Day 3 of blockade: 4 vehicles burnt in Dhaka, Narayanganj so far She said the BNP men carried out attacks even in disguise on that day, believing that they could remain unidentified and escape punishment. But they’ve finally been caught, she said. “They carried such misdeeds. Those who kill and attack journalists and police must face punishment,” she said. Hasina strongly condemned the way BNP attacked journalists and police. “Committing terrorist acts is their character,” she said. She also blasted different international organisations of journalists, including Reporters Without Borders for keeping silent over this attack. “Where are they now? We don’t see them and don’t hear any words from them. Where have they disappeared suddenly?” she said. The PM said some 30 journalists were injured and some have been receiving treatment in hospitals. “But we don’t hear anything from any of them,” she said. She compared the BNP’s attack on the police hospital here to the bombing on a Palestine hospital by Israel. They (BNP) carried out the attack on a hospital here the same way the Israel bombed a Palestine hospital and killed women and children. “I don’t know if they are taking lessons from the Jews,” said the prime minister. Talking about the 9th wage board for journalists, PM Hasina said it is the responsibility of the owners to implement it. It is very unfortunate that they filed a case instead of implementing it. She said the preparation continues to form the 10th wage board and the government has a plan to bring electronic media journalists under the wage board. She put emphasis on bringing the journalists who are working outside Dhaka under the coverage of the wage board. The premier announced to provide another amount of Tk 10 crore as donation to the Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust. The fund was formed with the seed money provided by the prime minister. She assured the journalists working outside Dhaka of giving plots to them under district-based housing projects. Noting that there is a huge number of newspapers in Bangladesh, she said the number of newspapers is not so high even in many developed and rich countries. There are 3,241 newspapers in the country, she said. Turning to the development of Bangladesh, she said today’s Bangladesh has gained the status of a developing country thanks to the continuation of the democracy and the government from 2009-2023. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud spoke as the special guest at the function chaired by BFUJ President Omar Faruque. BFUJ Secretary General Dip Azad conducted the event, while President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Sohel Haider Chowdhury and leaders of different units of BFUJ spoke on the occasion. In the function, former BFUJ leaders were honoured with crests. Read more: EC letter inviting BNP’s jailed leader for talks on polls returns undelivered: Sources

A group of pro-BNP journalists on Monday called upon the country’s apex court to grant bail to ‘critically’ ill BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at its own initiative paving the way for her advanced medical care abroad. They made the call while addressing a human-chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club. Pro-BNP factions of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of journalists (DUJ) arranged the programme demanding Khaleda’s treatment abroad. Speaking at the programme, former BFUJ president Shawkat Mahmud alleged that Khaleda has been pushed towards death by keeping her in jail after convicting her in ‘false’ cases. Also read: Khaleda can fly in any foreign doctor for treatment: FM “She was not given proper treatment there (in jail). We think she fell sick because of political vengeance. She’s now in between life and death. So, we urge the judges of the High Court to grant bail to Khaleda Zia on their own initiative,” he said. Shawkat said the apex court has the authority to give bail to Khaleda as it did the same thing in the past regarding some ministers. He also called upon the journalists to raise their voice to mount pressure on the government to allow the BNP chief to go abroad. “If necessary, we’ll take to the streets to realise the demand.” Jatiya Press Club Vice-President Poet Hasan Hafiz said it is unfortunate that a former prime minister is being deprived of receiving advanced medical care overseas. He also crticised the Awami League leaders for what he said making ‘derogatory' comments about Khaleda’s illness. “Such an attitude of the ruling party in an independent country can’t be accepted. There’s still time for the ruling party to release Khaleda Zia for treatment. I hope good sense will prevail upon them.” Hasan Hafiz thanked renowned Poet Nirmalendu Goon as he gave a status on Facebook wishing recovery of the BNP chief. “I appreciate Nirmalendu Goon for his courage. It has reflected that those who have a minimum conscience can’t support the inhuman and brutal attitude (towards Khaleda),” he observed. DUJ president Kader Gani Chowdhury said it touched the hearts of many people the way Khaleda’s doctors narrated her critical health condition on Sunday. Recalling Khaleda’s many contributions to the country, he alleged that efforts are on to kill the BNP chief in a planned way. “Laws are enacted not to annihilate anyone, but to save lives, maintain law and order and protect civilization. On behalf of the journalist community, we would like to urge the court to take initiatives to protect the life of Begum Khaleda Zia,” Gani said. Also read: Khaleda free, not in govt custody: Law Minister BFUJ President M Abdullah said people have got worried hearing the briefing of doctors on Khaleda’s fragile health condition. We, the journalist community, urge the government to take steps for sending Khaleda Zia abroad for advanced treatment. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November. Her medical board members on Sunday said Khaleda urgently needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.

A leader of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) was held Tuesday as police raided a residence in Feni’s Sonagazi and picked up nine women leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islam Bangladesh. BFUJ central committee president M Abdullah was visiting his sister’s house in Ward-3 of Sonagazi, at the same time as a clandestine meeting of Jamaat, the party without a registration, was being held on the property,  according to police.  Abdullah’s sister is married to ex-Jamaat Ameer of the upazila, Kalimullah, who wasn’t home during the raid.  At around 8pm, police raided the house and broke up the allaged meeting, making 10 arrests. The arrestees included the nine leaders and activists of Jamaat, all women, and journalist leader Abdullah- although police say they are merely interrogating him. READ: 4 Joypurhat Jamaat leaders held for allegedly planning vandalism The Jamaat leaders are Mahila Jamaat secretary Shaheda Akter, Jahanara Begum, Lutfun Nahar, Amina Begum, Shahida Akhter, Shahnaz Akhter, Zakia Akhter, Rabia Akhter and Kusum Akhter. Assistant Superintendent of Police Masukur Rahman of Sonagazi Circle confirmed the arrests, adding that jihadi literature and anti-government propaganda, a membership list and written action plans were also recovered during the raid.   A case was being prepared against them, the ASP said. READ: Info Minister blames BNP Jamaat for recent anti-Hindu violence M Abdullah, who already gave his identity as a journalist, is being interrogated. He would be shown arrested with the others if he fails to explain his presence at the house at that time satisfactorily. M Abdullah said, “Police arrested me while I was visiting my sister's house. I have no idea who was  in that house.”

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists on Saturday welcomed Information Minister Hasan Mahmud's insistence on ad-free (clean-feed) broadcasting of foreign TV channels. No foreign channel has actually responded yet though by freeing up their broadcast in Bangladesh of advertisements catering to foreign markets. Instead they all simply remain off air in Bangladesh, after cable and DTH box operators fell in line with a directive from Mahmud's ministry to stop broadcast of foreign channels that do not provide a clean feed in Bangladesh. In two separate statements on Saturday, BFUJ President Mollah Jalal, Secretary General Abdul Majid and DUJ President Quddus Afrad and General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu said the country's economy, artists, culture and media industry have been affected for a long time due to non-broadcasting of ad-free or clean feed on foreign TV channels. Read: 'Clean feed' may lead to foreign channels' ad slots catering to local market The country is being deprived of investment worth at least two thousand crore Tk as a result, added the journalist leaders. The financial crisis in the domestic television industry will be reduced to a great extent because of implementing clean feed, they said,. Their reasoning was not explained. The statements also said that the decision to not broadcast foreign TV channels did not come from the government but from cable operators. Thanking the information and broadcasting minister for implementing clean feed, the journalist leaders demanded announcement of a wage board for broadcast journalists.Strong steps should be taken to ensure fair salaries and job security for everyone related with the journalism profession, the statements read.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered a two-month stay on the election of Bangladesh Federal union of Journalist (BFUJ) which was scheduled to be held on October 23. The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order following a writ petition by a journalist whose name was dropped from the voter list of the election. Petitioner Mohammad Hasan Ferdous, former general secretary of Chattogram Journalist Union, sought the stay until his name is included as a voter. The HC also issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why Hasan should not be included in the voter list. Barister Satirtho Pal and Advocate Nurul Karim stood for the petitioner while assistant attorney general Ashique Rubayet represented the state. On September 25, BFUJ published the names of candidates in different posts for the election. BFUJ election commission has published a final list of 33 valid candidates out of 34 nominations filed for the vote. According to BFUJ about 4,000 members have been declared eligible to vote in the election. Senior Journalist Shahjahan Sardar will conduct the polls as the Chief Election Commissioner.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday urged journalists to look at the issue of Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam from a realistic point of view instead of considering it emotionally. “Look at Rozina Islam issue from a realistic point of view instead of looking at it emotionally,” he told the leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ). The BJUJ leaders met the minister at his Minto Road residence a day before a Dhaka court’s order on the bail petition of Rozina in a case filed against her under the Official Secrets Act. Also read: Rozina to get fair judgement: FM tells CNN BFUJ president Molla Jalal, acting secretary general, Abdul Majid, senior journalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Dhaka Union of Journalists’ (DUJ’) joint secretary Khairul Alam, executive member Ibrahim Khalil Khokon and senior journalist Motahar Hossain were, among others, present. Earlier, the newly-elected committee of Directors Guild, an organisation of television drama directors, met the minister at his residence. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Hasan alleged that an anti-state quarter is trying to take advantage of the incident involving Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam in the Health Ministry on May 17. Also read: Order on journalist Rozina Islam’s bail Sunday "The Rozina Islam incident has been politicised as the anti-state quarters have become very active to take advantage of it by capitalising on it,” he said. The minister said, “No one is above law -- neither a minister and a secretary nor Rozina Islam. We’ve to be careful so that the anti-state elements can’t use any of our activities as a weapon to harm the country." Besides, he said, various anti-state elements, who conspire against the country and spread false propaganda staying abroad, have also been seen to be very active over the incident. Also read: Drop all "oppressive charges" against Rozina: HRW The minister said Khaleda Zia’s former deputy press secretary Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari got a reply from an official on overall media by asking a question at the regular press briefing at the UN Secretary General's Office. “There’s an evil effort to conduct a campaign over that reply that it was the UN’s concern over the Rozina Issue. “The statement of a UN official and the UN’s concern are not the same at all.” Dr Hasan said he got information on social media about collecting official documents from the Shipping Ministry and Home Ministry by Rozina in the past the same way she did it in the Health Ministry on May 17 and managing work for her husband’s business. “As an investigation is going on, these things will come out.” About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s comments on the incident, Dr Hasan said as BNP is speaking on the Rozina issue and it is clear that there is an attempt to give it a political colour.

 

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has restarted an “old game of setting trap to eliminate BNP”.

Expressing concern over the recent statement of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhakaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) on Saturday said the statement came as part of deep conspiracy to create ‘utter anarchy’ in the newspaper industry.

Veteran journalist Wadudur Rahman Panna died at a private clinic in Khulna Saturday evening. He was 75.