Don’t allow polls to be ‘festival’ of anti-liberation forces: Inu

Dhaka – Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Tuesday urged all to remain aware so that the next general election is not used as a ‘festival’ for the proliferation of extremists, anti-liberation forces and fire terrorists. UNB news agency reported
“Election is crucial for the continuation of constitutional and democratic process. But, we’ve to see the next general election through the spectacles of war on suppressing extremism and communalism,” he said.
Speaking at a reception programme at the Jatiya Press Club, Inu further said, “I don’t think it is the right approach to bring Rajakars and their supported party in election through motivation. I don’t think there’ll be any shortcoming in the election if Rajakars boycott it.”
Senior journalists accorded the reception to Jatiya Press Club secretary Farida Yasmain for wining a US Congressional special award. The award was given recently for being elected as the first-ever female general secretary of the National Press Club of Bangladesh in its 63 years of history.
Speaking at the programme as the chief guest, Inu said the government’s highest priority is to ensure gender parity at every sector. “Farida Yasimn’s election as the National Press Club general secretary is very significant for the nation. I, on behalf of the government, thank and greet her.”
The minister said the government is trying to give democracy and democratic institutions a strong footing by removing all the barriers created by communal and military rulers in the past.
He said though the anti-liberation forces and militants have got cornered by facing a strong resistance, the war is still on against them as they are continuously hatching plots to harm the nation.
The minister said media should play a strong role so that military-backed or Rajakar-backed government can never be installed in Bangladesh. “Media can never be neutral when it comes to national interests and democracy.”
Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council Justice Momtaj Uddin Ahmed said they have taken some steps so that the Press Council can act as a true guardian of journalists.
“Cases used to be filed against you (journalists) in the past. From now on, you’ll file cases with the Press Council if you’re tortured and harassed in gathering information or publishing news. We’ll soon issue a notification in this regard,” he added.
He also said they will include two female members as the council members to empower female journalists.
Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, ruling party MP Advocate Sanjida Khanam, Daily Ittefaq acting editor Tasmima Hossain, UNB editor Mahfuzur Rahman, Prothom Alo joint editor Abdul Qayyum Mukul, JPC senior vice president Azizul Islam Bhuiyan, BFUJ general secretary Omar Farruk, DUJ president Shaban Mahmud and JPC joint general secretary Elias Khan, among others, spoke at the programme.