Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that the BNP leaders have started to become jealous over the Prime Minister's visit to Japan, America and the UK. Out of their frustration, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir broke all past records of lies.
Regarding the report of France-based organization Reporters San Frontiers, which recently showed Bangladesh's position below Afghanistan in terms of media freedom, the Information Minister said, 'This report is nothing but a purposeful story. Media freedom in Bangladesh is an example for developing countries in the world today. In many cases, media freedom in Bangladesh is more than that of many developed countries.
He said these things in response to reporters' questions after laying the foundation stone of the multipurpose building of the Chittagong Radio Center on Friday afternoon. Bangladesh Betar Director General Nasrullah Irfan along with Chittagong center officials were present at this time.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gone on a tour for the country. Japan has given us a 30 billion yen support agreement for various projects. The World Bank, which turned its back on us from the Padma Bridge, realized their mistake and invited the Prime Minister to Washington and signed an agreement worth $2.25 billion.’
"My question is why BNP is perversely lying to the people about those achievements," the Broadcasting Minister said, "I would request Mirza Fakhrul Islam, he can also feel honored for the help and respect that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has brought to the country."
He said, 'IMF chief met our prime minister and said that Sheikh Hasina's leadership is necessary for the development progress of Bangladesh. He highly praised Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Seeing these, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is being burnt, that is why he is lying. At the same time he broke all previous records of his lying.'
In response to the questions of journalists about the report of the France-based organization Reporters San Frontiers, the Information Minister said, 'They have shown Bangladesh below Afghanistan where girls cannot go to school and university, where no one can speak. This proves that this report is nothing but a deliberate story.'
"This organization distorted the picture of the public leader Sheikh Hasina and printed her cover online and gave offensive captions and in view of that a case has been filed in the French court," he said.
Earlier, Minister Hasan Mahmud described the Chittagong Radio Center as historical and said that Bangabandhu’s declaration of independence was sent to various places through wireless just before his arrest, and it was first read in this Chittagong Radio Center by the then Chittagong Awami League General Secretary MA Hannan. It was broadcast throughout the day on 26 March from Chittagong Radio Centre. Later on March 27 when the Chittagong Awami League leaders decided that Bangabandhu's declaration should be read out by an army officer. Major Rafiq Bir Uttam of EPR was contacted first. He said I am on an Ambush, if we move, the battle will be lost. Then he suggested for Ziaur Rahman.
Dr. Hasan said, "In Major Rafiq's book 'In exchange for a million lives', the events have been described in detail. Major Rafiq wrote - On the night of March 25, Ziaur Rahman was going to release the arms of the Pakistanis from the Swat ship. He returned after being interrupted on the way, then read the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Bangabandhu on 27th March.'
The Minister said, 'Many distortions of history have been done, which we have undertaken a project on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to collect information from archives all over the world with the aim of stopping it forever. Various documents of Bangabandhu's declaration of independence, our freedom movement, freedom war, have been preserved in various archives of the world. We have contracted to collect 156 such documents from British Path, one of the best archives in the world. Those who distort history do not know that true history is preserved all over the world. It was not possible to distort it. We have taken the initiative to collect that, so that no one can present this debate forever.'
