Free speech at stake now
People’s rights to freedom of speech is at stake now, BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana told parliament yesterday.
Participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the president’s speech, the opposition MP alleged that people could not talk freely even in social media as they fear the Digital Security Act.
Pointing to the editors of a Bangla daily and an English daily, Rumeen said the situation was so dreadful that the two editors were talking about self-censorship.
“The government has also gagged voices of mass media by putting pressure on advertisers,” she said.
Criticising President Abdul Hamid for saying that the last national election was held in a free, fair and inclusive manner, Rumeen said the election had no credibility.
“This election has set a rare example in the world. There is instance of rigging in different countries. But there is no instance of gaining absolute majority through casting votes the night before the election day,” she added.
She said although the government was claiming that the country’s economy was progressing in large strides but economic indicators was showing a down trend.
“Export earnings last year decreased compared to those of the previous year. There is a negative impact on employment. Foreign exchange reserves have dropped. The private investment situation is bad. Share market has collapsed.”
She alleged that the share market collapses whenever the Awami League comes to power. Millions of people were affected due to debacle in the share market.
Share market index is now the lowest in four years. Several hundred crores of taka have been looted from the market, she said.
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