Hasan Mahmud
Thank govt for suspending Khaleda’s sentence, Hasan tells BNP
BNP should remain thankful to the government for yet another six-month suspension of Khaleda Zia’s jail sentence under an official order, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Monday.
“If that order is revoked tomorrow, Khaleda Zia will have to return to jail immediately. I think the BNP needs to keep this in mind as well,” said the minister.
Hasan, joint general secretary of the Awami League, said this while replying to questions from journalists after launching the BSRF Barta, a publication of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum at the ministry’s conference room.
Also read: Khaleda’s conditional release extended by another six months
Asked about BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s comment that the government is afraid of freeing Khaleda the minister said, BNP should rather thank the government for suspension of her sentence for another six months.
Elaborating Hasan said BNP chairperson was not released on bail or freed by any order of the court. “Khaleda Zia is out of prison because the prime minister suspended her sentence by exercising power given by the law,” he said.
Hasan also brushed aside another BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain’s recent call to the people to take to the streets demanding that the next national election is held under a neutral caretaker government.
He said the next election will be held according to the constitution which does not provide for any caretaker government.
Also read: Govt restricting Khaleda from going abroad out of ‘fear’: Fakhrul
He said elections are held under the Election Commission. When the election schedule will be announced, all the polls-related government officials and employees will work under the Election Commission, he said.
The election-time government, Hasan said, cannot transfer a single police constable after announcement of the polls schedule. The Election Commission has already conducted many elections very successfully, he added.
He said BNP’s demand for a caretaker government has no constitutional basis and so it will fail to get any response from the people like it happened in the past 12 and a half years.
President of Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum Tapan Biswas and General Secretary Masudul Haque and other leaders of the forum were present at function.
Dhaka, Delhi for quick completion of ‘Bangabandhu’ movie
Bangladesh and India have agreed to fast track the completion of “Bangabandhu”, a biopic on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as it is expected to be released globally in March 2022.
Indian Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur held a meeting with a delegation of Bangladesh led by Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud in New Delhi on Tuesday and discussed the issue.
They discussed matters of mutual interests to further the strong ties between the two countries in areas of broadcasting and entertainment, strengthen people-to-people contact and explore the potential of soft-power interface between the two countries.
Also read: Info Minister for strengthening Dhaka-Delhi people-to-people ties
Govt. to permit some IPTVs this month, says Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said approvals will be given to some Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTV) within this month.
“We did not give any permission to any IPTV yet. We have asked the authorities concerned to apply for registration and some 600 applications have been submitted. We will give approval of some IPTV within this month after scrutiny,” he said.
The Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.
“It is known to all that according to the broadcast policy an IPTV can’t present any news and allegations have been brought against some IPTV,” said Hasan.
Replying to a question, the Awami League joint general secretary also said “The government has announced the mass inoculation drive following the roadmap, but BNP is trying to mislead people as they did in the past.”
Referring to the Gonoshasthya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's remark about the government's wrong policy, Hasan said “Knowing everything about the global situation, Dr Zafrullah is also misleading people. His statement is nothing but misleading.”
READ: Hasan Mahmud urges BNP to accept truth about its founder Ziaur Rahman
Dr Zafrullah on Sunday said the country’s health system has collapsed due to the ‘wrong’ policy of the government as it is suffering from 'dependency syndrome'.
“The Covid death rate has increased in the country because of the government’s wrong policy. The government has been walking on a wrong path for which the health system has completely collapsed,” he said while speaking at a press conference at Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
“The government has taken all steps to stem the Covid-19 from the beginning and we were able to tackle the first wave of Covid-19 successfully under the leadership of the prime minister,” Hasan said.
He said that the government has already declared that 10 crore doses will come within this year and one crore people will be vaccinated in one month.
To a query about the reopening of export-oriented factories amid strict lockdown and sufferings of workers, the minister said the demand to reopen the export-oriented factories came from the businessmen. The decision to reopen factories was not made by any secretary or person, it was the decision of the government.
READ: Hasan Mahmud senses unknown malice behind BNP observing Mar 7
But the garment owners said they will start work with the workers living in Dhaka and adjacent areas, he said adding but the owners deviated from it and made phone calls to the workers outside Dhaka to join their work and it created a confusion.
Hasan Mahmud warns of clampdown on IP TVs
Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that action will be taken soon against unregulated and unauthorized Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTV) across the country.
The minister was responding to a question from reporters at his official residence in Dhaka on Friday afternoon.
“Some IP TVs are often involved in spreading rumors, serving false information and engaging in hoaxes. Again, it is seen that before getting the approval, some people have opened offices like television channels, appointing district representatives. All these issues need to be brought into a regulation,” said Dr Mahmud.
Read: Hasan Mahmud urges BNP to accept truth about its founder Ziaur Rahman
After the ministry called for registration, more than five hundred applications were submitted.
Only the ones with quality would be sorted out and given approval, the Minister said.
During his conversation with the reporters, the Information Minister in reference to Helena Jahangir, director of Joyjatra IPTV, that it was not appropriate for such a person to enter the party's sub-committee.
Read: Connection between Bangladeshis and Indians ‘indelible’: Hasan Mahmud
Action was being taken against her and the authority would look into the allegations about her IPTV; if found to be true, action will be taken, he said.
Hasan Mahmud urges BNP to accept truth about its founder Ziaur Rahman
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the word ‘decency’ doesn’t go with BNP as the people still remember the “indecent language” BNP chairperson had used about the prime minister over phone before 2014 national election.
“Our prime minister had made a phone call to Khaleda Zia before the 2014 election but what indecent language she used! People of the country have seen it. Besides, after Koko’s death, the prime minister went to Khaleda’s house to express condolence but she did not open the door even though the prime minister waited outside for 20 minutes,” he said.
Hasan was talking to the newly elected Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at his office.
Also read: Hasan Mahmud senses unknown malice behind BNP observing Mar 7
He referred to BNP leaders’ statements alleging that the government is not allowing Khaleda to go abroad for treatment.
Will ensure justice for journalist Rozina: Info Minister
Journalist Rozina Islam, arrested under the Official Secrets Act on Monday, will get justice, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday.
“I’d request journalists to look at the matter rationally. Since a case has been filed, we’re seeing to it that she (Rozina) gets justice. Have faith in the government. The Prime Minister and I are determined and cordial to protect the honour of journalists,” he said at an event of Journalist Welfare Trust at Chattogram Press Club’s Bangabandhu Hall.
The 42-year-old Prothom Alo senior reporter, known for unearthing corruption, was kept detained at a room in the Secretariat for over five hours before being handed over to police.
She allegedly took photos of documents related to government negotiation to buy Covid-19 vaccine from various sources, according to case documents.
Also read: Quader urges journalists to be patient over Rozina issue
On Tuesday, a Dhaka court sent her to prison after rejecting the police's five-day remand plea. She is scheduled to appear before the court on Thursday.
Rozina Islam rejected the allegations saying, "I was, in fact, harassed at the Secretariat."
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, raised concerns over the journalist’s arrest. “It’s something that’s concerning,” he said in a regular briefing.
Journalists groups in Bangladesh and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) demanded her release.
Also read: DB to investigate case against Rozina
“We’re deeply alarmed that Bangladesh officials detained a journalist and filed a complaint under a draconian colonial-era law that carries ridiculously harsh penalties,” said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJ’s senior Asia researcher, reports AP.
Minister Mahmud said it is wrong to take away confidential documents.
“Anyone can seek information from the government through the Information Commission but he/she will not get information on a non-disclosure item. Taking such a secret document is wrong,” he said.
The minister said the government would ensure that she gets justice. “If anyone from the Health Ministry was responsible [for the incident], it’ll be unearthed through investigation,” he said.
Also read: That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest
The health minister has explained what had happened with her, Mahmud said.
He asked why she was detained at the Secretariat for five hours? He said the health ministry has formed a committee to investigate the incident. “It’ll see if anyone had harassed her, what was her crime and if anyone from the ministry had committed any crime,” he said.
BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the arrested Hefazat leaders recognised the involvement of BNP-Jamaat alliance in the violence carried out in the country last month.
"You’ve seen that the Economic Times of India and some local newspapers have reported on how BNP-Jamaat alliance actively participated in the violence and funded the miscreants…Pakistani intelligence also helped them,” he said.
Also read: Govt has link with Hefazat, alleges BNP
Hasan Mahmud came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a food distribution programme in his hometown Rangunia via online.
He said the recent violence were not isolated events, as those were part of a bigger plan by the BNP-Jamaat alliance to grab power by ousting the government.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
"No one involved with the incident will be spared," he warned.
Tamim Iqbal, Hasan Mahmud to return home Sunday
Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and right-arm pacer Hasan Mahmud will arrive in Dhaka by 10 pm on Sunday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Saturday.
Tamim has cleared earlier that he won’t be available for the three-match T20 series against New Zealand due to personal reasons while Hasan Mahmud has been suffering from a back injury since the second game of the three-match ODI series.
Hasan, a 21-year-old pacer, played the ODI series opener in Dunedin. In the same game, he sustained a blow on his back, and he will need more time to get rid of this injury. After returning home, he will be under observation of the BCB medical team.
Bangladesh lost the ODI series in New Zealand 3-0. They failed to pass the 200-run mark in the first and the last game. In the second game of the series, they posted 271 runs but failed to seal the match.
Also read: We need some big partnerships: Tamim Iqbal
Tamim, Mohammad Mithun and Mahmudullah Riyad hit a fifty each in the ODI series while Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed bowled some good spells which are the only positive things that Bangladesh can take forward.
The Tigers will now take on the hosts for a three-match T20 series starting on March 28, with the remaining two games will take place on March 30 and April 1 at McLean Park, Napier and Eden Park, Auckland.
After this series, Bangladesh scheduled to tour Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series against the hosts. As per the schedule, both Tests will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy with the first match taking place from April 21 to April 25 and the second match from April 29 to May 3.
Also read: Bangladesh includes Hasan Mahmud in Test squad against WI series
Before the series begins, the Bangladesh team will play an intra-squad game at Chilaw Marians Cricket Club Ground, Katunayake. This tour was originally scheduled to take place in September last year. But due to the Covid-19 situation and strict quarantine condition in the island nation, the series was postponed.
Connection between Bangladeshis and Indians ‘indelible’: Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said Saturday that despite geographical and political barriers, the connection shared between Indians and Bangladeshis cannot be erased.