ZCZC
BSS-63
HASAN-BNP-DEMOCRACY
BNP itself a barrier to democracy: Hasan
DHAKA, Sept 1, 2020 (BSS) – Sharply criticizing a comment of BNP
over democracy issue, Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said
BNP itself is a barrier to democracy.
“It is now a big question that how much internal democracy BNP has!
You can see that BNP will have to rent a hall to hold a meeting for
its central committee. I think that it is important for BNP to
establish the internal democracy,” he added.
The minister made these comments replying to query of newsmen before
holding a meeting with the leaders of Sampadak (editors) Parishad at
the conference room of his ministry at secretariat here.
Information Secretary Kamrun Nahar was present in the meeting.
Hasan said the party belongs to war criminals and who were against
the independence is the main associate of BNP and they (BNP) is
continuing to patronize the war criminals and militants groups.
Bangladesh is democratic country and if they (BNP) want to talk about
democracy, they should have come out from the way of patronizing them
— war criminals and militants, he added.
In the meeting, the minister informed that the online versions of
the daily newspapers would get priority to online news portal
registration.
The daily Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, the daily Bangladesh
Pratidin editor Noeem Nizam, the daily Kaler Kantha editor Emdadul
Haque Milan, the daily Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamol Datta, the daily
Sun editor Enamul Haque Chaudhury, the daily Banik Barta editor Dewan
Hanif Mahmud, the daily Samakal acting editor Mustafiz Shafi and the
daily Sangbad acting editor Khandakar Muniruzzaman joined the meeting.
Terming the meeting as a regular one with the editors, Hasan said,
“We always discuss different issues of newspapers and overall issues
of media as well. Today, we also discuss about these issues.”
The information minister extended his sincere thanks to the
concerned of media for continuing their activities in the prevailing
COVID-19 situation.
The government has been providing support to journalists during the
coronavirus pandemic as per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
The ministry, he said, is working towards getting registration of
the online versions of the daily newspaper as soon as possible. “The
investigations were done during the declaration of the newspapers. We
will take steps for registration of the online versions of the dailies
on priority basis,” he added.
The minister also told the meeting that discussions were also held
about due bills of the newspapers in different ministries. There are
about Taka hundred crore of bills of newspapers have been stuck at
different ministries and departments, he said.
“I think that the bills would be cleared soon. There are many crises
in newspapers in the COVID-19 situation. So that, it will be more
useful now, if they pay the due bills,” he said.
He said the Cabinet division earlier has issued a letter to all
ministries and departments to release the bills of newspapers and the
information ministry has also issued a letter. Now, another letter
will be issued to this end, Hasan added.
Noeem Nizam said there is no alternative to the state’s cooperation
in progressing the media, especially in the prevailing coronavirus
situation.
“The discussion has been fruitful and we sought cooperation to
bring the dailies’ online version under registration along with the
due bills of the newspapers. And we got assurance of the information
minister,” he added.
BSS/Asg/BN/PSB/MRU/1946hrs