Prothom Alo, BNP ‘supplement’ each other

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday alleged that an attempt was made to implement the agenda of a certain quarter to catch fish in troubled waters through a report of Bangla daily Prothom Alo.

"The Prothom Alo ran the report quoting a labourer. It is time to think about whether it is a statement of an ordinary labourer or one given by the Prothom Alo," he said.

Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, made the remarks before attending a joint meeting of the party at its central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

Coming down heavily on the newspaper, he said the Prothom Alo and the BNP "supplement" each other.

"Their target is Sheikh Hasina, [their] target is the government and the people. The target is to foil the next election."

He said on the Independence Day, the media in every country encourage its people to love the country in a new way through running inspiring news on that country.

"But the Prothom Alo is trying to incite frustration and anger among the young generation by presenting false news before the nation.

"There is no doubt local and foreign conspiracies are aggravating the political crisis. There is no doubt this news is false, fabricated, and conspiratorial," said the AL general secretary.

He said having a quote from a seven-year-old child by "bribing him Tk 10" is not journalism.

"Independence Day is a unique day to create a sense of patriotism among the young generation. Isn't publishing a news with an aim to setting a special political agenda not tantamount to denying the independence, the principles and achievements of the Liberation War?"

Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams was arrested in a case filed under the Digital Security Act and was sent to jail on Thursday. The DSA case was also filed against the paper's Editor Matiur Rahman.

Quader said ridiculing the country's achievements on the Independence Day is not just a mistake.

"This is not only an immoral act, but also a criminal offense. There is a clear provocation [in that report] to divide the nation... Can the Prothom Alo editor and publisher deny the responsibility?

"Have they regretted or apologised for their grievous crime? They have shown extreme audacity... no one is above the law," the AL leader said.

Regarding the statement of Reporters Without Borders, the road transport and bridges minister said, "This organisation says that the government has filed such a case against the Prothom Alo editor to intimidate journalists. I would like to say that the government didn't file any case in this regard. An ordinary citizen can also file a case."

The AL at yesterday's meeting decided that it won't hold "counter programmes" to that of the BNP's.

The ruling party would rather organise iftar distribution programmes every day, and through those it would try to hold gatherings to deal with the BNP on the streets, party insiders said.

At the meeting, a central AL leader proposed the party leaders reconsider attending different events of Prothom Alo.

Quader in reply said they would take a decision in this regard very soon.

Responding to a question from another central leader whether socio-cultural organisations should take to the streets to protest against Prothom Alo, the AL general secretary said yes.

PROTEST AT SHAHBAGH

A group of Chhatra League leaders and activists from Dhaka University blocked the Shahbagh intersection in the city for about an hour from 11:00am yesterday, demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the Prothom Alo editor.

They accused Matiur Rahman of being a conspirator against the state in the guise of journalism, running a media outlet for politically motivated yellow journalism, exploiting children in violation of international law, and continuously spreading false news and rumours about the country's independence.

The protest was organised under the banner of "Dhaka Bissobiddaloyer Shadharan Shikkharthibrindo", which caused traffic congestion in the area.

BCL leaders from its various DU hall units led the protest. Among the leaders were Imam Hossain Zihad, joint general secretary of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall BCL, Ainul Islam Mahabub, joint general secretary of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall BCL, Shakil Reja, joint general secretary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall BCL, and former BCL leader Tania Akhter Taposhi.

They BCL members also burned an effigy of the Prothom Alo editor.