Info Minister
Diplomats are welcome to advise on polls, but no meddling with internal matters: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that foreign diplomats are free to give advice on elections as long as they don’t interfere in the country’s internal affairs and cross diplomatic etiquettes.
The minister said this while exchanging views with journalists after receiving the annual report of Bangladesh Press Council at the ministry’s meeting room on Monday.
“The foreign diplomats can talk to any political party of the country about participatory elections. They can even talk to any particular political party in private on avoiding conflicts during the time of elections. The government has no problem with that as we also want transparent and participatory elections,” Hasan said.
About Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) recent activities, the minister said it’s the BNP men who are attacking their own fellows to create an anarchic situation.
“In 2018, BNP secured five seats in the parliament as an outcome of their dialogue (with the government). This time, they’ll be rejected by the people if they don’t shun the path of violence,” said Hasan.
Replying to a question, the minister added that Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had established the Press Council to remove misunderstanding between the public and the media.
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“Currently, the only role that the Press Council plays is of reprimanding. The government is trying to formulate new laws to increase the power of this body,” Hasan added.
Hasan, also the Joint General Secretary of the ruling Awami League, reaffirmed his view media in Bangladesh enjoys more freedom than in many developed countries of the world.
“The government is creating a database of the journalists. The Press Council has prepared a draft policy in this regard, which will be approved soon,” said Hasan.
During the meeting, Press Council Chairman Nizamul Haque presented their report for 2022. Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Observer and Saiful Alam, dditor of the daily Jugantor, among others, were present at the meeting.
No substitute for sports in developing flair: Info Minister
In developing the flair of the youth, there is no alternative to sports, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud.
Sport not only keeps the body healthy but also opens up the mind and keeps it cheerful.
The minister came up with these remarks at a prize-giving ceremony of the Bangabandhu Inter-University Sports Championship Kabaddi competition in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The competition was organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports at the American International University Bangladesh-AIUB premises.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russell presided over the ceremony while founding member of the Board of Trustees of AIUB Hasanul A Hasan and Dean of Engineering Department Dr. Siddique Hossain, among others, were present.
Following the instruction of the Prime Minister, the ministry of sports has brought all the institutes from primary schools to universities under the national sports competitions. Around 7,000 competitors from 125 universities are participating in various sports of the Bangabandhu Inter-University Championship this year, said Russell,
Gono University became the champion defeating Daffodil University in the boys’ category while Daffodil University became the champion crushing Gono University in the girls’ category.
AL's strength drawn from the people: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Friday said their party is not dependent on any foreign force, rather the people of Bangladesh are the key source of the Awami League's strength.
"We have good relations with all countries and India is our true friend".
The Minister made these remarks while addressing a discussion meeting on 'Bangabandhu Assassination: Politics of Post-75 Bangladesh' marking the 47th Martyrdom Anniversary and National Mourning Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Hall of Chittagong Press Club on Friday evening.
Recalling August 15, Hasan, also AL joint general secretary said, 'Imam Hussain was slaughtered in Karbala but no women and children were killed there.
On August 15, 1975, 10-year-old child Sheikh Russell, four-year-old Sukanto Babu, and 11-year-old Baby Serniabat were killed. Even pregnant Begum Arzoo Moni did not escape the killers.
“A crime against humanity was indeed committed that day,” added the minister.
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Now, it is our responsibility to unmask the conspirators involved in the August 15 massacre including Ziaur Rahman and his family members, who are the most beneficiaries of this massacre.
“They are still continuing their conspiracies as the country heading towards another national election”, he added.
M A Salam, president of Chattogram North District Awami League presided over the meeting while Joint General Secretary Debashish Palit moderated the meeting.
General Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Vice President Hero Freedom Fighter Professor Mohammad Moinuddin, Abul Kalam Azad, ATM Payrul Islam, Mohiuddin Ahmed Rashed, Swajan Kumar Talukder, among others, spoke.
Bangladesh inflation lower than many countries in the world: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said that inflation in Bangladesh is lower than many developed and South Asian countries.
Hasan said this at a news compilation publishing event held at the Secretariat.
“Many developed countries are experiencing record-breaking inflation rates. Inflation rate in the US is at 8.6 per cent, while in the UK, Germany, Russia, Turkiye and the Netherlands the inflation rates are 9.1 per cent, 7.9 per cent, 17.1 percent, 73.5 per cent and 9.6 per cent, respectively,” said Hasan.
The minister, also the Joint General Secretary of the ruling AL, added that among the South Asian countries, inflation rates in Sri lanka and Pakistan are at 39.1 per cent and 13.8 per cent, respectively.
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“In India, the inflation rate is hovering above seven percentage points. Inflation rate in Bangladesh was around six per cent a few days ago. Recently, it has gone up to seven percentage points. Commodity prices have started to fall around the world and I think that we’ll be able to reap the benefits of this downward trend of prices within two to three months,” added Hasan.
Replying to a question, the minister reaffirmed that the next general election will be held in ways elections are held across the world, which is under the incumbent government and the current Election Commission (EC).
Govt working to create database of journalists: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday that the Press Council was working to create a database of journalists with a view to bring fake journalists to book.
“Once the database is created, identifying oneself as a journalist will become tough. As a result, the number of fake journalists will drop,” said Hasan.
Hasan was speaking at a views exchange meeting with the Editors Forum at his ministry’s meeting room.
Also read: BNP's statements outlandish, insane: Hasan Mahmud
During the meeting, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Advisor of the Forum, said that journalists must work according to the spirit of the liberation war, while Rafiqul Islam Ratan, Convener of the Forum, said that there is no scope to air talk shows or news bulletins on the websites of newspapers or on online news portals according to the Printing Presses and Publications (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973.
Leaders of the Editor’s forum submitted a 10-point memorandum to Hasan at the meeting. The demands include—refraining from providing government advertisements and supplements to and cancelling the registrations of irregular and weak newspapers, paying the outstanding advertisement bills, reorganizing the circulation-determining process of newspapers, not making unprofessional journalists the Editors of newspapers, designating VIP status to the members of the Editors Forum and enabling the Information Ministry to provide declarations to newspapers.
The Minister thanked the forum for agreeing with the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) that talk shows and news bulletins can’t be broadcast by newspapers.
“Newspapers can publish short videos with their news, not talk shows or news bulletins. The existing law prohibits such practice,” Hasan said.
Also read: Online news portals cannot legally broadcast talk shows, bulletins: Hasan Mahmud
Member Secretary of the Editor’s Forum Faruk Ahmed Talukder, Advisors of the forum Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, Sharif Shahabuddin and Belayet Hossain, and Members of the forum Dulal Ahmed Chowdhury, Mir Moniruzzaman, Mofizur Rahman Khan Babu, Rimon Mahfuz, Nazmul Alam Toufiq and Jagdish Chandra Sarker attended the meeting.
TV channels can offer only one foreign serial at a time: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Saturday that no TV channel in the country can broadcast more than one foreign serial at a time.
The minister said this while addressing virtually as the chief guest at the third broadcast conference of Broadcast Journalist Center-BJC at Bangla Academy in the capital afternoon.
This decision was made to protect the history, heritage and culture of the country, he added.
Also read: Abandon those who want to make Bangladesh a communal country: Hasan Mahmud
Hasan Mahmud said the media is one of the pioneers of the country that should not be used to protect the interests of the owners. The government has agreed with the journalists on the changes and amendments to the Media Workers Act and is awaiting the written proposal of the top organization of journalists, said the minister. So there is no room for debate, he added.
Syed Ishtiaq Reza, one of the trustees of BJC, presided over the function.
Also read: Online news portals cannot legally broadcast talk shows, bulletins: Hasan Mahmud
BJC President Rezwanul Haque Raja, Member Secretary Shakil Ahmed, Directors Rashed Ahmed, Nur Us-Safa Zulhaj, BFUJ President Omar Farooq, Former President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu, DUJ President Sohail Haider Chowdhury among others were present on the occasion.
No festival planned for Padma Bridge opening: Info Minister
The government is not organizing any festival to mark the opening of the Padma Bridge, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Monday.
There will just be an opening ceremony and a public rally on June 25, he told reporters at the Secretariat adding that the Padma Bridge has become a “symbol of our ability.”
He said people across the country are jubilant as the construction of the bridge has become a reality despite opposition from BNP.
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“BNP doesn’t want any inaugural programme over the opening of the Padma Bridge and they hatched conspiracy to foil its opening. But their conspiracies have been thwarted,” said Hasan.
Referring to the flood situation in Sylhet and northern region of the country, Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities to go all out to rescue the marooned people and reach relief materials to them. The Army has been deployed for rescue operation.
The leaders and activities of the ruling party Awami League are working in the flood-affected areas alongside the local administrations, he said.
A Chhatra League leader died while working in flood-hit areas, he added.
Padma Bridge is a symbol of Bangladesh's potential: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said that the Padma Bridge is not just a bridge of pride, it is a symbol of the potential of Bangladesh.
The minister said this before joining the golden jubilee celebration of the country's independence organized by Bangladesh Abrittishilpi Sangsad in Cox's Bazar on Friday evening.
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Those who opposed the Padma Bridge are now suffering from jealousy after the end of Padma Bridge construction, the minister said, adding that not only BNP but also Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and many others strongly opposed Padma Bridge.
Even, Dr Muhammad Yunus wrote a letter to the World Bank through Hillary Clinton to stop financing the Padma Bridge, he claimed.
"But Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has overcome all conspiracies and built the Padma Bridge with our own funds," Hasan said.
The minister said BNP tried to create chaos in Dhaka University with the direction of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
"As far as we know, Tarique Rahman has contacted all the terrorists in different parts of the country and asked them to create chaos," he said. '
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"I will request our leaders and activists across the country, along with the law enforcement agencies, to work with the people to prevent such chaos."
Saimum Sarwar Kamal, lawmaker from Cox's Bazar’s Ramu, Director General of the Bangla Academy, poet Muhammad Nurul Huda, Deputy Commissioner Mamunur Rashid, General Secretary of District Awami League and Municipal Mayor Mujibur Rahman were also present on the occasion.
Info minister considers legal action against TIB for lies
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said legal action should be taken against Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and others who he said are lying about the government that saved Tk 20,000 by procuring free Covid vaccines.
Hasan Mahmud made the remark while replying to journalists at the seminar room of the ministry.
Hasan quoting the health minister at a recent briefing said “We have given 25 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines worth Tk 20,000 crore. Bangladesh had started the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 when 130 countries across the globe could not.”
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The health minister said the government has spent Tk 20,000 for supply, inoculation and management of the vaccine and saved Tk 20,000 of the state by procuring the vaccine free of cost, said Hasan.
The information minister alleged TIB has distorted this statement of the health minister.
“Being a developing country Bangladesh has provided the vaccines free of cost which was not possible for even many developed countries, he said.
“The mortality rate from Covid stands at 1.5 per cent but according to TIB report it’s 7.8 per cent which proves the unprofessionalism of this body. Some 30,000 people have died from Covid in the country to date but according to TIB’s speculated data the number will be 1.5 lakh.”
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“TIB has intentionally published the fictitious data in the name of research to blame the country and badmouth about the government in haste without any proper research. BNP Leader Rizvi also talked about this using the TIB data as source like an illiterate”, he added.
“Legal actions should be taken against everyone who indulged in spreading these lies. Legal notice will be sent to TIB if necessary,” said Hasan.
Info Minister calls Mirza Fakhrul 'a great liar'
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.