ZCZC
BSS-51
HASAN-BRIEFING-MINISTRY
Info ministry renamed as Ministry of Information and Broadcasting: Hasan
DHAKA, March 16, 2021 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the name of the Ministry of Information has been changed as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting because it has been doing the tasks of broadcasting along with giving information.
“We have sent a letter to the Cabinet division to change the name of the ministry. The Cabinet division sent it to the President after evaluation and taking approval from the Prime Minister. After getting approval from the President, a gazette notification has been issued in this regard. We would like to extend thanks to the President and the Premier for this,” he said.
The minister told the newsmen at a press briefing at the seminar room of his ministry at Secretariat here. State Minister for Information Dr Murad Hasan and Information Secretary Khaja Mia were present in the briefing.
Hasan said the ministry is also doing the works of broadcasting along with giving information and focusing the government works. “For this, we’ve proposed to change the name keeping consistency with the nature of its works,” he added.
He said the name of the ministry was ‘Ministry of Information and Betar’ during the Mujibnagar government, the first government of Bangladesh when Bangabandhu was the President. After the independence, when Bangabandhu was running the state, the name of the ministry had been renamed as ‘Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’, he added.
But, the name of the ministry was changed in 1982, Hasan said, adding that the name of the ministry in India and Pakistan is also Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“I think that changing the name of the ministry was not appropriate. Besides, confusion was also created for the name. From now on, the confusion will be removed,” he said.
Replying to a query over BNP’s activities, Hasan said the nation is going to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence when the country got the final recommendation for Bangladesh’s transition to a developing nation from least-developed country status.
MORE/ASG/PSB/MRU/2008 HRS
ZCZC
BSS-53
HASAN-BRIEFING-MINISTRY-TWO LAST
But, he said, it is really astonishing that BNP didn’t congratulate to the government for the success of the nation. They didn’t congratulate the countrymen too, he added.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, BNP has been failed as a political party and it always see failure in everything, he added.
BNP, he said, made failure absolutely when it was in power. “But, the party showed success in corruption, irregularity and militancy. The country became five-time champions in corruption. They made the country a sanctuary of militants and carried out bombs attacks at 500 places in a row and August 21 grenade attack,” he added.
The minister said BNP winks at country’s success. But the whole world is seeing the progress and the World Health Organization and the UN have praised the ability of Bangladesh in combating the COVID 19 situation, he added.
Replying to a query over BNP’s stand on Teesta issue, Hasan said, BNP is now trying to create confusion over the Teesta agreement. Discussion over the agreement between Bangladesh and Indian central government has been made progress a long, he added.
But, he said, approval is needed from the state government as per the Indian constitution. So, there is no failure of the Indian central government and it (agreement) will be done after getting approval from the state government, he added.
The minister said BNP, in fact, is trying to create an issue as now there is no issue to do politics.
About BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, Hasan said she was not released on bail or acquitted by the court. The premier, as per her power bestowed upon her, suspended prison of her (Begum Zia) on humanitarian ground. “Later, it was extended for another six months. And now it is extended for more six months,” he added.
“I think, BNP should extend thanks to the government specially the Prime Minister for this as the Premier suspended the punishment on humanitarian ground. But, BNP has failed to give thanks. Actually, they don’t practice the culture of giving thanks,” said Hasan.
BSS/ASG/PSB/MRU/2008 HRS