BNP leaders including senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain are telling tall tales against the government to console their activists, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday. “BNP could not wage any movement; they will not be able to,” he added. He was speaking to the reporters after placing a wreath at the grave of Awami League (AL) former general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam in the city's Banani on his fourth death anniversary. Read more: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud Regarding the BNP’s demand to unseat the current government, he said, “They (BNP) have been saying this since a few months after we formed the government in 2009. In fact, their leaders and activists are not with them.” “The way they shouted on December 10 and talked about 10 lakh people joining their rally...since then the leaders of BNP have been questioned by their activists as only 50,000 people joined there,” said the senior AL leader. The way Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the country forward despite the global recession, today the whole world is praising her. The people of the country are also with the Awami League and the government, Hasan added. Read more: AL workers thwart BNP's attempt to sow chaos: Hasan Mahmud Paying tribute to Syed Ashraful Islam, the minister said he (Ashraf) took politics as a vow and the new generation of politicians has a lot to learn from him. He also prayed for eternal peace for Ashraf's departed soul.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said since foreign minister AK Abdul Momen is none of Awami League’s central committee, the party give him no responsibility to advocate for it in the foreign lands. “He is an MP of Awami League but none of the party’s central committee. So, Bangladesh Awami League has not given that responsibility to anyone (him) to say something on behalf of the party going abroad,” he said while exchanging views with journalists in his ministry here in the capital. Hasan, also an AL joint general secretary, said this when his attention was drawn to the comments of AL presidium member Abdur Rahman that Momen is none of the party and his recent statement (seeking Indian support for Sheikh Hasina) is not the party’s stance. Also read: Momen comments: AL expects PM to formally look into it Hasan said they believe in the power of the people. “We believe that none but the people can sustain the government,” he said. He said the party is not responsible if someone shares his personal views with someone. “If someone talks to someone, it is his responsibility. Neither the government nor the party gave him any such responsibility,” he added. "I think if you are in a responsible position, you need to speak responsibly,” he continued. Hasan claimed that BNP doesn’t believe in the power of the people, rather curries favour with the European Union, the United States and China regularly to come in power. “In this country, no one can put someone in power,” he said. Also read: Momen's India remarks have no link with AL: Quader In reply to a question if there is any initiative to bring back BNP leader Tarique Rahman to the country, the minister said Tarique has been convicted with life-term imprisonment in the August 21 grenade attack case. “We continue talks with the United Kingdom. But they have some domestic laws where there are complexities (to bring him back),” he added.

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should pay attention to Palestine and Myanmar. He said it would have been better if the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet during her recent visit to Bangladesh heard from the victim families of the arson violence unleashed in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in the country. Dr Hasan, also a joint general secretary of Awami League, was addressing a discussion organised by Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU) Alumni Association on the occasion of the National Mourning Day at Krishibid Institute Auditorium here. Also read: Election period in Bangladesh to be important time to maximise civic, political space: Bachelet He said when children in Palestine threw stones at Israeli soldiers, they (Palestinians) are killed by firing a hail of bullets in response. Pointing at Michelle Bachelet, the Information and Broadcasting Minister said it is not enough to appreciate Bangladesh visiting the Rohingya camp only. But she will also have to visit Myanmar and ensure their repatriation, he said. “The United Nations Human Rights Council should pay attention to these countries where human rights are grossly violated,” he added. Criticising the BNP, Dr Hasan said Zia and his party (BNP) are the biggest violators of human rights in Bangladesh. Ziaur Rahman turned the Indemnity Ordinance into law to prevent the trial of Bangabandhu murder and he also rehabilitated the killers. And in 2013, 2014 and 2015, hundreds of innocent people were burnt to death through petrol bombs in the name of strike-blockade by BNP and their ally Jamaat, he said. Also read: Bachelet didn’t express any concern over Bangladesh situation: Law Minister About the remarks of Michelle Bachelet over the Digital Security Act, Hasan said that this law was enacted to ensure digital security for every citizen of the country. “Those who raise questions about our law, I will tell them to look at the laws in Australia and Singapore where there are stricter provisions in the laws than ours,” he said adding that India and Pakistan also have similar provisions in their laws. A framework law was enacted in the European Union to provide digital security and the EU member countries have made their laws in light of the Framework law. But, no remark about these is seen, he added. "Yes, we are careful to ensure that this law is not misused, and we are working to ensure that no one is oppressed," said the Minister. Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, SAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan the SAU alumni association secretary general and also Youth and Sports Secretary Mesbah Uddin also spoke at the discussion presided over by the association president Prof Dr Kamal Uddin Ahamed.

Bangladesh would have been benefited if Sheikh Kamal was alive, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday. The minister said this after paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj marking Sheikh Kamal's 73rd birth anniversary today, according to a press release. He said Sheikh Kamal will remain alive among the people for ages, as long as Bangladesh exists, through his actions during his short span of life. “With his talent and organisational skills, I think Bangladesh would have benefited more,” he added. Read: PM: Multitalented Sheikh Kamal led very simple life Sheikh Kamal could have played a great role in the country's culture and sports arena, above all in leading Bangladesh, said Hasan and prayed for eternal peace of his departed soul. Earlier in the day, Hasan paid tribute by placing wreaths at the portrait of Shaheed Sheikh Kamal at Abahani field in Dhaka. Kamal fell to bullets when disgruntled forces assassinated Bangabandhu along with most members of the family of the architect of Bangladesh on August 15, 1975 at his 32 Dhanmandi residence.

Information Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud said that the BNP often makes various statements quoting foreigners, most of which are false and fabricated. Proof of the BNP's lies and misogyny toward foreigners is the recent outburst of anger by the German ambassador in his speech, he said. Read: AL’s character to blame BNP for its own misdeeds: Mirza Fakhrul The minister said these while responding to the reporters before attending an iftar party in honor of the residents of the Information Minister's constituency at the RB Convention Center in Bahaddarhat on Saturday evening. It is a rare incident that an ambassador has publicly expressed his displeasure over the statements made by the leaders of a political party. “We have never seen this type of incident in our country.” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir even wrote a letter to the US Congressmen to stop aid to Bangladesh, added the minister. Read: BNP's politics of propaganda target erasing Liberation War memories: Speakers When asked about the BNP secretary general's statement over Chhatra League’s involvement in ‘Dhaka New Market clashes’, Hasan Mahmud said, "Mirza Fakhrul Saheb is a champion in lies." It is BNP's nature to create chaos by harboring any unrest, the New Market incident is a testament to that. The police are nabbing the accused after examining the video footage and when they saw that their evil face has been unveiled, the BNP leaders are talking baseless.  

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the demand for sending BNP chief Khaleda Zia abroad was raised with a political reason, not because of her health problems. “Who’ve said Khaleda Zia is in a critical condition? BNP central leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Almgir and Rizvi said. No physician has said yet that Khaleda Zia is critically ill,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the secretariat. Read:Pro-BNP lawyers’ memo over Khaleda’s treatment to be examined: Law Minister Physicians and Evercare Hospital authorities did not say anything about the necessity of sending her abroad for treatment and it is only BNP’s demand, Hasan Mahmud insisted. “It’s my question whether the BNP leaders have become doctors! It’s also a question whether the government will take any decision as per BNP leaders’ prescription,” he said. “We saw it in the past when Khaleda Zia fell sick; they always demanded the government send her abroad whether it is knee pain or high body temperature, they always demanded the same. It’s a politically motivated demand,” said the minister. They want to send Khaleda to London where Tarique Zia is staying so that she could continue politics from there despite being a convicted accused, the minister said. Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, was readmitted to Evercare Hospital on 13 November, six days after she had returned home from the hospital. The BNP chief's physicians said she has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, critical cardiac, kidney ophthalmological and dental complications. The hemoglobin level in her blood has also dropped. Read: No scope in law for Khaleda’s treatment abroad, says Home Minister On behalf of the family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on 11 November urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment. Law Minister Anisul Huq, however, recently said the BNP chairperson first has to make a fresh application by going back to jail to go abroad for treatment. A delegation of pro-BNP lawyers on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Law Minister Anisul Huq seeking the government’s permission to send ailing Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment. They argued that there is no legal obstruction for the government in allowing Khaleda to go abroad. The minister said that they will examine the memorandum.

The government will make registration mandatory ahead of operating any news portal from the next year, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday. “Declaration is a must before publishing any newspaper, and there should be the same rule in the case of news portal operation. News portals must get registered before starting their activities which will help bring discipline in the sector, “said the minister. The minister came up with the remarks at BSRF Dialogue held at the secretariat. Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) arranged the dialogue. Hasan Mahmud said the government is taking an initiative to stop broadcasting news from IPTVs. “We’ll soon take steps against those IPTVs which broadcast news.” “Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a global reality. It’s new media. Those shouldn’t be shut. But the mushroom growth of IPTVs can’t continue. So, we’ve put in place the registration process for IPTVs,” the minister added. Read: BTRC shuts 59 unregistered, illegal IPTVs Responding to a question, Hasan Mahmud said the proposed media workers law is now at the final stage. “Once it is passed in parliament, the workers of electronic media and even the online ones will get legal protection. There’ll be no retrenchment without any prior notice. There’ll no chance to say “Don’t come to office from tomorrow,” he added. The minister said cable operators will not be allowed to broadcast foreign channels until they ensure add-free programmes.  Read: BTRC reminds users of least-promoted service: 'Do Not Disturb' for promo texts! He said the cable operators do not pay any tax to government from their incomes. “When the cable operating system will be digitalized, then they won’t get any chance to evade tax.” BSRF president Tapan Biswas and general secretary Masudul Hoque were present.

The government did not shut any foreign TV channel as Bangladesh’s sky is open, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday. “The agents of foreign channels and operators have stopped broadcast as they failed to air advertisement-free programmes or clean feed. There’s no restriction on broadcasting foreign channels that are giving clean feed,” he said. The minister said this while talking to reporters at Chattogram Shilpakala Academy after attending a symposium on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s birthday. Also read: 'Clean feed' may lead to foreign channels' ad slots catering to local market “Foreign TV channels have been airing progammes in Bangladesh over the years ignoring our law. Every year the country is losing around Tk 2,000 crore worth investment because of the broadcast of foreign channels with advertisements,” he said.

The leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and concerted effort of the people will help turn Bangladesh into a ‘Sonar Bangla’ as envisioned by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before 2041, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said Friday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday distributed the National Film Awards among 33 recipients under 26 categories for the year 2019.