Do not broadcast Sheikh Hasina’s speeches: Bangladesh warns its media

Dhaka: The BNP government led by Tariq Rahman on Tuesday warned of action against Bangladeshi media if they broadcast Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s statements. The warning from Advisor to the Prime Minister on Media and Broadcasting Zahidur Rahman came against the backdrop of a section of Bangladeshi media covering Hasina’s recent interview with an Indian news channel, in which she confirmed that she would return “this year.”

He also said in a press conference that there is no room for the banned Awami League to carry out political activities, whether on its own or under the name of another group, such as the “revised or new Awami League, or the Trinamool Awami League.” Al-Zahid said it was also inappropriate to broadcast her statements until the court lifts the ban on her speeches, adding that despite this, “many media outlets are still broadcasting them, and this means they are defying the court orders.” Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), announced separate month-long programs from July 2 and 1, respectively, to mark the second anniversary of the “uprising” and also press their demands including speeding up the prosecution of those responsible for the killings during the “uprising.”