Dhaka, Apr 28 (UNB) – BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that the government has established its full control over the media by creating a division among journalists and their organisations.
“This fascist regime has brought all the state machinery, including the judiciary and administration, under its control. They’re also now controlling the ownership of the media outlets,” he said.
Speaking at the annual council of a faction Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), the BNP leader further said, “Even, the government has established its full control over the organisations of journalists by creating a division among them.”
He said many journalists are going through serious financial crises losing their jobs as a consequence of the current politics and governing system.
Like journalists, Fakhrul said many leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, including Chhatra Dal, are passing through a tough time for lack of jobs. “They’re pulling rickshaws and working as street vendors in Dhaka, leaving their localities. Even, some of them committed suicide having failed to get jobs. This is the reality now.”
He alleged that Awami League created a similar crisis after the Liberation War of the country. “At that time, a group of ruling party men formed JSD leaving Awami League and many of them were killed for opposing the then government…those used to speak the truth at that time were repressed and kept in jail.”
The BNP leader said Awami League branded all its opponents as collaborators after the independence. “We know it very well what Awami League actually is.”
He accused the government of keeping BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail in ‘false cases’ with a political motive denying her bail. “We’re repeatedly speaking against it and trying to wage a movement. But all the movements may not be always successful. It’s very tough for a democratic force to fight against a fascist regime.”
Fakhrul, however, told BNP leaders and activists not to get upset as the truth and justice will finally prevail, and the evil force will get defeated. “The people of Bangladesh never get defeated. So, we’ll also become victorious.”
