People no longer have rights to speak in the country: Moyeen Khan

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said on Sunday that the people in the country have no right to speak (freedom of expression).

“Where there is no democracy, then media freedom might not exist. People have no right to speak. People are being forced to follow the same line. Considering this present circumstances, media freedom is highly required before saving democracy,” he said at a discussion marking the World Press Freedom Day at the National Press Club.

“Today people of Bangladesh have to establish their rights to speak, independence and freedom of media,” he said.

He stated that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the freedom of the media because the general people don’t put restrictions on the media’s freedom, rather the government itself does that.

Mentioning mass media as the fourth pillar of the state, he said that media could play an important role in divulging the truth and exposing unjust, helping a country to rebuild and flourish.

Mr Moyeen Khan, who was also a former minister, further said that the founder of BNP and former president Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation stone of the structures of the National Press Club.

He said that late Ziaur Rahman had ensured freedom of the media.

“Today the Awami League leaders treat him (Ziaur Rahman) as simply a soldier. If a soldier (Ziaur Rahman) had ensured freedom of the media, then why does the Awami League put restrictions on media freedom now?” he said.

“The present government (AL) claims itself a pro-liberation force. The main motto of the Liberation War was for democracy,” he said.

“There might be no media freedom if there is no democracy in the country, scope to express freedom of expression. If 180 million people of the country were compelled to follow a single line of Awami League’s philosophy then there might not be freedom of mass media,” he continued.

President of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Ruhul Amin Gazi presided over the discussion.

He said that 60 journalists were killed over the last 15 years and the trial of journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder trial is yet to see the light of the day. He claimed that 500 newspapers have been closed down in the country.

He said that journalists used to face torture if they wrote corruption reports against ministers or members of parliaments (MPs). Many were compelled to leave the country following the prevailing situation in the country, he continued.

Secretary General of BFUJ and member secretary of Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad Quader Gani Chowdhury, president of Dhaka Union of Journalist (DUJ) Shahidul Islam, vice-president Rashedul Huq, general secretary Khurshid Alam, joint secretary general of BFUJ Basir Jamal, its organising secretary Sayeed Khan and office secretary of DUJ Iqbal Majumder Tauhid were present, among others, at the event.

Meanwhile, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Sunday urged the people to boycott the upcoming upazila elections.

“Sheikh Hasina (Prime Minister) staged dummy elections on January 7, 2024. The upcoming upazila polls will also be dummy,” he said while distributing leaflets at Bailey Road in the capital, calling upon people to boycott the upcoming upazila elections. 

“At present people of the country cannot exercise their votes to elect the candidates of their own choices. This dummy government has created this situation,” he continued.

He said that the democracy-loving people of the country will not participate in the upcoming upazila elections.

Health affairs secretary of BNP Dr Rafiqul Islam, vice-president of Swechchhasebak Dal Dr Jahidul Kabir and vice-president of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal Jakir Siddique were present, among others.

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