ZCZC
BSS-35
HASAN-ROZINA-ADVANTAGE
Anti-national quarter out to take advantage on Rozina issue: Hasan
DHAKA, May 22, 2021 (BSS)- Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said an identified anti-national quarter is out to take advantage capitalising on the incident of journalist Rozina Islam occurred at the health ministry on May 17.
He, however, warned against any activities that can give weapons to that quarter.
“The incident of Rozina has been politicized and the anti-national vested quarter has become more active on the issue. Activities of anybody should not give weapons to their hands,” he told reporters at his official residence at Mintu Road in the capital.
Earlier, the minister exchanged views with the newly elected executive committee members of Director’s Guild.
Guild’s president Salauddin Lavlu, general secretary SM Kamruzzaman Sagar, vice presidents Masum Aziz, Faridul Hasan and Rafiqullah Selim, joint secretary Piklu Chowdhury and other members were present at the meeting.
Hasan said the Amnesty International gave statement on the Rozina issue just day after the incident though the organisation took long time to give statement over the killing of hundreds people including children and women in Palestine.
He said anti-state vested quarters that are out to hatch conspiracies and spread rumours and propaganda from abroad are also active on the same issue.
The minister said Begum Khaleda Zia’s former assistant press secretary Mushfikul Fazal attended a regular press briefing of the United Nation’s secretary general’s office and got an answer after asking a question from an official on the mass media issue. But they are trying to say that the UN has expressed its concern over the Rozina issue, he regretted.
Comments of an official of the UN and expressing concerns by the United Nations are not same, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said none including ministers, secretaries or Rozina is above law. “We should remain alert so that none can harm the country by misusing our activities as weapons,” he added.
Replying to queries over Rozina’s husband’s business links with the health ministry and the same of Rozina at the shipping and home ministries, Hasan said “I saw those at social media and other media. But since the investigation is going on, truth will come out in the investigation.”
Replying to another query over the BNP secretary general’s comments on the Rozina issue, the minister said when BNP leaders deliver speeches on the Rozina issue, it should be understood that there is an attempt to make it political.
To another query over the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity’s announcement, Hasan said it is not proper to declare someone unwanted when there is a difference of opinion.
Later, the minister exchanged views with the leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.
In the meeting, the minister urged all to look at the Rozina issue realistically not emotionally.
BFUJ president Molla Jalal, acting secretary general Md Abdul Mazid, senior journalist Syed Ishtiaq Reza, Dhaka Union of Journalists joint general secretary Khairul Alam, executive member Ibrahim Khalil and journalist Motahar Hossain, among others, were present at the meeting.
BSS/ASG/PSB/KU/2000 HRS