Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP is spreading confusion about dialogue as they don’t believe in democratic norms.
The minister made the remarks during an exchange of views meeting with reporters at the meeting room of Ministry on Monday afternoon.
Dr Hassan Mahmud said, “The President has called for a dialogue over the formation of the Election Commission, where various political parties are participating. I hope BNP will also participate in the dialogue. BNP could convey their objections to the President, which they make on the streets or in front of the media. Their objections, suggestions, everything can be conveyed to the President but it is not desirable to mock the dialogue.”
He also said, “Dialogue is needed in politics. Politics and democracy cannot move forward without dialogue. Since they (BNP) do not believe in democratic norms and want to undermine democracy, they are talking nonsense about dialogue and spreading various misconceptions.”
When asked about the Union Parishad elections, Hasan Mahmud said, “There is no alternative to Awami League in the country for peace and progress. After the election in the fourth phase UP polls, it has been seen that in the most cases the Awami League has won. Although the BNP did not take part in the elections with the party symbol, independent candidates of BNP were in the race but the number of their winning is insignificant. And the number is much less than Jatiya Party. This proves that Awami League is the alternative of Awami League in the country. This means that the popularity of the Awami League has not decreased rather it has increased.”
Meanwhile, in response to a question from reporters about the negative remarks made by BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on the treatment of Khaleda Zia, the Minister said, “Begum Zia is being provided the
highest medical care in the country. She is being treated at the hospital where she wanted to be treated. This is the unprecedented generosity of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the case of the convicted criminals.”
He further said, “The law minister has already explained that she cannot be sent abroad. She should have been treated in a government hospital under the supervision of the government. Since her complete treatment is being carried out under the supervision of the BNP, if the health of Begum Khaleda Zia is harmed in any way, BNP and those in charge of her treatment will be responsible.”
When journalists asked about the control over the media in the fast developing country Singapore and Malaysia and the position of Bangladesh in this regard, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting said, “Four television channels in Singapore are controlled by their government. There are 33 television channels broadcasting in Bangladesh and these private channels are not controlled by the government. There are only a handful of newspapers in Singapore and most of them are government-controlled. The freedom of the media in our country and the freedom of speech that we have is an example for many developing countries including Singapore.”