CHATTOGRAM, Oct 10, 2020 (BSS) – Sharply criticizing BNP leaders for their remarks on recent rape incidents, Information Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that when BNP was in state power, they did all these misdeeds under the party platform.
“None, from an eight-year-old child to a pregnant woman or a sixty-year-old woman, escaped from the onslaught of the BNP. It is ridiculous when they talk about torture on women who have been gang-raped in the past. So the statement of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is ridiculous,” he added.
He said that when Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke, he forgot what they did when they were in state power, so they could utter such unbridled talk.
“Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina-led government has given exemplary punishment to such incidents by judging what has happened in the past. Still she is determined to give exemplary punishment for what has happened today,” Hasan added.
He said this when journalists drew his attention about the comment of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakrul after inauguration of a day-long training workshop on “Annual Performance Agreement (APA)”, organized by Bangladesh Betar held at local circuit house.
Earlier, Mirza Fakrul commented that the government would not be given any more time to establish rights of women and children.
Director General of Bangladesh Betar Hosne Ara Talukder presided over the function while Chattogram Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad, Regional Director of Chattogram Betar SM Abul Hossain, among others, spoke in the inaugural function as special guests.
Hasan said, “Of course, they (BNP) have not given us time for long and they have never wanted to give us time since three months after we formed the government in 2009. But the reality is that people have given us time and Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the people, has been the Prime Minister for almost 12 years, so whether Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir would give us time or not is not a big issue, the main issue is whether the people are giving us time.”
The information minister said that women have been empowered in Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“She made the reserved quota for 33 percent women in the local government bodies. Bangabandhu’s daughter has increased the number of women MPs to fifty. For the first time in the history of the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has appointed women to various posts including Foreign Minister, Home Minister and Speaker. The progress made under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in the field of women’s empowerment is a great example before the world,” he added.
The information minister said that the incidents that are happening today are not the ones that have not happened before. But before there was no prevalence of social media so people could not know them, he added.
“The incident of Noakhali was not first published in any television or newspaper or even online. It was first published on social media, followed by other mainstream media outlets. This is the good side of social media,” he said.
Mentioning the role of radio in the great war of independence Hasan said that as long as Bangladesh exists, the words of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra will be written in golden letters.
“Radio is playing a very important role in nation building activities. Many of the radio programs are very good and have a wide appeal to the masses”, he added.
“Radio is also playing an important role in nurturing our culture. Nowadays with the proliferation of social media and smart phones, it is not possible to carry a radio. So I have taken the initiative to bring radio to the mobile phone through apps. Now it can be heard on Bangladesh Betar by mobile through apps,” he said.
He mentioned that even though Chattogram Beter has a capacity of 100 kilowatts, its program cannot be heard in Feni due to various reasons including the surrounding hills.
However, the 100 kW capacity Khulna betar center program can be heard here as there is no obstruction. Considering the importance of business activities here and small ethnic groups, there is a demand for various news across the country, he added.
“So we have decided to upload it to Bangabandhu Satellite like Dhaka Kendra and then downlink it to different radio stations and listen to it all over the country. This will be a milestone in the history of Chattogram Betar Kendra”, Hasan said.