Media not yet completely free from fascist forces: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has commented that the country’s media is still not completely free from fascist forces.

He made this comment in a post on his verified Facebook page around 10 am on Monday (June 16).

Tarique Rahman wrote, June 16, 1975 is a black day in the history of Bangladesh. On this day, the then ruling class abolished all parties and established an extremely authoritarian one-party Baksal, leaving behind 4 newspapers loyal to them, leaving the entire nation speechless. As a result, numerous journalists working in various newspapers became unemployed. Their livelihood and the future of their children were pushed towards extreme anarchy.

He further wrote, the main spirit of our war of independence was to achieve geographical independence of Bangladesh and establish democracy. In traditional democracy, civil freedom of people is ensured and the main condition for this is freedom of speech, thought and expression. With the freedom of the press, the state and society come under accountability and the will of the citizens is reflected in the formation of the country’s government. But the rulers of the post-independence era betrayed the original spirit of the war of independence and established a one-party Baksal system, halting the path of multi-party democracy.

The acting chairman of the BNP wrote that later, the great independence proclaimer, martyred President Ziaur Rahman, reintroduced the desired multi-party democracy of this country. He abolished all kinds of undemocratic old laws of the Baksal government and re-established the freedom of the press.

He wrote that the deprivation of freedom of the press is basically keeping thought and conscience imprisoned. Like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter Sheikh Hasina also followed the same path and re-introduced their true philosophy of a one-party system in a new form. They have continuously oppressed journalists and newspapers by enacting various old laws.

Stating that the freedom of the media was taken away in Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman further wrote, “If you speak the truth, you will face the sword of torture.” People at all levels, including media workers in Bangladesh, have had to live in constant fear. Freedom of the press and expression was imprisoned in a terrible fortress by enacting one ‘draconian law’ after another, such as the Digital Security Act and the Cyber ​​Security Act.

He wrote, “Although the media has enjoyed some freedom after the fall of the fascist government on August 5, the media is still not completely free from the hands of fascist forces.”

Finally, the acting chairman of BNP wrote, “I firmly believe that freedom of the press is a fundamental element of multi-party democracy. To ensure the security and stability of democracy, freedom of the press must be ensured.”