Anti-state quarters trying to take advantage of the situation, says Hasan Mahmud
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday urged journalists to look at the issue of Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam from a realistic point of view instead of considering it emotionally.
“Look at the Rozina Islam issue from a realistic point of view instead of looking at it emotionally,” he told the leaders of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).
The BFUJ leaders met the minister at his Minto Road residence a day before a Dhaka court’s order on the bail petition of Rozina in a case filed against her under the Official Secrets Act.
The Dhaka Sub-Editors Council holds a protest demanding the release of and justice for journalist Rozina Islam in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, Saturday, May 22, 2021 Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune
BFUJ President Molla Jalal, Acting Secretary General Abdul Majid, senior journalist Syed Ishtiaque Reza, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Joint Secretary Khairul Alam, Executive Member Ibrahim Khalil Khokon and senior journalist Motahar Hossain were present among others.
Earlier, the newly-elected committee of the Director’s Guild, an organization of television drama directors, met the minister at his residence.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Hasan alleged that an anti-state quarter is trying to take advantage of the incident involving Prothom Alo journalist Rozina Islam at the Health Ministry on May 17.
Also read - Momen to CNN: Rozina Islam will get fair judgement
"The Rozina Islam incident has been politicized as the anti-state quarters have become very active to take advantage of it by capitalizing on it,” he said.
The minister said: “No one is above law — neither a minister and a secretary nor Rozina Islam. We have to be careful so that the anti-state elements cannot use any of our activities as a weapon to harm the country."
Besides, he said various anti-state elements, who conspire against the country and spread false propaganda while staying abroad, have also been seen to be very active over the incident.
The minister said Khaleda Zia’s former deputy press secretary Mushfiqul Fazal Ansari got a reply from an official on overall media by asking a question at the regular press briefing at the UN Secretary General's office. “There’s an evil effort to conduct a campaign over that reply that it was the UN’s concern over the Rozina Issue. The statement of a UN official and the UN’s concern are not the same at all.”
Dr Hasan said he got information from social media about the collection of official documents from the Shipping Ministry and Home Ministry by Ms Islam in the past the same way she did it at the Health Ministry on May 17 and managing work for her husband’s business. “As an investigation is going on, these things will come out.”
About BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam’s comments on the incident, Dr Hasan said that as the BNP is speaking on the issue, it is clear that there is an attempt to give it a political colour.
Leave a Comment