Staff correspondent :

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the successful visits of Prime Minister to Japan, US and UK creates resentments within BNP.

“BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has broken all his past records of lies after seeing the achievements of Prime Minister’s visit to Japan, US and UK,” he said.

Hasan was responding to the queries of journalists after laying the foundation stone of the Multipurpose Building of Bangladesh Beter in Chattogram this afternoon.

Referring to the report of the France-based organization, Reporters Sans Frontiers, which shows Bangladesh’s position below Afghanistan in terms of the freedom of media, the information minister said that this report is nothing but a deliberate and fabricated story.

“Today, the freedom of media in Bangladesh is an example for developing-countries across the globe. In many aspects, this freedom in Bangladesh is more than that of many developed countries,” he added.

Director General of Bangladesh Beter Engineer Nasrullah Md Irfan was also present, among others, on the occasion.

Dr Hasan Mahmud said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, worthy daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, went on official visits for betterment of this country.

“Japan has agreed to help us with 30 billion yen in various projects. The World Bank, which turned away from our Padma Bridge project, now invited the Prime Minister to Washington, hosted a function in the weekend (holiday) and signed a $2.25 billion deal realizing its mistake,” he said.

My question is why BNP is spreading lies to the people about those achievements in perverse manner? I would like to inform Mirza Fakhrul Islam that they can also feel honored for the help, cooperation, and respect as well as honor that leader Sheikh Hasina has brought for the country,” he said.

The information minister further mentioned that the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) met the Prime Minister and said that Sheikh Hasina’s leadership is necessary for development and progress of Bangladesh.The IMF head highly praised Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. By seeing this appreciation, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir became jealous and that is why he is lying now. At the same time, he broke all previous records of his lying,” Hasan added.

In response to another query about the report of the France-based organization Reporters Sans Frontiers, the information minister said that the report have shown Bangladesh below Afghanistan in which country’s girls cannot go to school and university and where no one can talk (freely).

This proves that this report is nothing but a deliberate fake and fabricated story,” he said.

Dr Hasan Mahmud said that earlier this organization had distorted the picture of PM Sheikh Hasina, printed it on the online-cover and gave offensive captions and later a case filed in the French court.

Noting that Bangladesh Beter Chattogram Center is a historical radio station, Dr Hasan said Bangabandhu’s declaration of independence, which was sent to various places via wireless, was first read at this Radio Station by the-then general secretary of the Chattogram AL MA Hannan.

It was broadcast throughout the day on March 26, 1971 from Bangladesh Beter Chattogram Center,” he added.

Later, on March 27 when the AL leaders of Chattogram decided that Bangabandhu’s declaration should be read out by an army officer then the first EPR officer Major Rafique, Bir Uttam, was contacted.

“He then said that I am sitting on ambush, if I move from here, the progress of the War of Liberation may hinder. He was the person who looked for Ziaur Rahman,” Hasan added.

Dr Hasan said Major Rafique has published a book titled “In exchange for lakhs of lives (Lokko Praner Binimoy)” where all these matters are described in detail.

Quoting Major Rafique’s writing, he said, on the night of March 25, Ziaur Rahman was going to release the arms of the Pakistanis from the Swat ship.

He came back after being blocked on the way, he said, adding that later, on March 27, Ziaur Rahman read the declaration of Independence on behalf of Bangabandhu.

As many histories has been distorted, the authority concerned has undertaken a project by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to collect information from archives around the world with the aim of stopping the distortion of history forever, he said.

The minister said Bangabandhu’s declaration of independence and war of liberation are preserved in various archives of the world.

“We have taken the initiative to collect these. We contracted to collect 156 such documents from a British archive, one of the best archives in the world. Those who have distorted history do not know that true history has been preserved all over the world,” he said.

“It was not possible to distort it. We have taken the initiative to collect these so that no one can place this debate in future,” said the information minister.

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