Countrymen laugh when BNP leaders talk about democracy: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the countrymen laugh when the leaders of the party (BNP) which was born undemocratically talk about democracy.

"It is a question how much they (BNP) have the right to talk about democracy. People laugh when the leaders of the party (BNP) which was born undemocratically and seized the power from cantonment talk about democracy," he said.

The minister told the reporters after addressing a view exchange meeting with the committee members of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at the auditorium of Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat in the city, reports BSS.

Principal Information Officer Md Shahenur Mia, DRU president Nazrul Islam Mithu and general secretary Nurul Islam Hasib, among others, addressed the meeting.

Hasan said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was declared the first president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, while Syed Nazrul Islam was appointed the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu and Tajuddin Ahmed was appointed as the first prime minister on April 17 in 1971.

He said Ziaur Rahman did job of Taka 400 per month under that government and took salary regularly.

The minister said that the proclamation of independence was given by Bangabandhu in the first hour of March 26 in 1971. The then general secretary of Chittagong Awami League MA Hannan made the announcement on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra from Kalurghat on March 26, 1971, he said, adding Ziaur Rahman followed him on the next day (March 27) as Awami League leaders decided to involve an army officer with the declaration.

He said the late office bearer of Chittagong Awami League, Nurul Haque, had pronounced the proclamation of the independence through mike on March 26 in Chittagong city after the declaration was given by Bangabandhu. BNP tries to make office bearer as the head master of a school, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

He said BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir fell into trouble by giving example of the democracy of Pakistan. For this, they are now talking the opposite, he added.

Replying to a query over BNP's movement after Eid, the minister said they have been giving such threats of movement for the last 12 to 13 years. "After which Eid is their movement?" he posed a question.

In the meeting, the minister extended his congratulations to the newly elected DRU committee members.

Hasan said the Mass Media Employees Bill (Services Conditions) has been sent to parliamentary standing committee. The committee can change and rectify the draft and even it (committee) can send back the bill, he said, adding the committee has the power.

So, the minister said, there is no reason to worry.