Staff Correspondent:
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said amid BNP’s continuous hue and cry that there is no democracy in the country and the people have no freedom of speech, Bangladesh moved one notch up in democracy index as per a new report of Washington based research institute Freedom House.”It means practice of democracy continues in Bangladesh. Under the leadership of Jananetri Sheikh Hasina, progress has been achieved in all sectors, including freedom of speech,” he said while exchanging views with reporters on Bangladesh’s progress in democracy index at his Minto Road residence here.Hasan, also Awami League (AL) joint general secretary, said on one hand, BNP leaders always make comments, join different programme of television channels and make irrational criticisms of the government, on the other hand, they claim that they have no freedom of expression.Freedom House report revealed that BNP’s claims are absolutely false, he said.”The practice of democracy is continuing in Bangladesh aptly. Bangladesh can make more progress if BNP properly practices democracy,” he said.Noting that BNP doesn’t practice democracy inside the party, he said BNP itself cannot say when the party’s last council was held.At a stroke of a pen, a person becomes leader in BNP as well as he or she is removed from the party, he mentioned.In reply to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s criticism against the government, Hasan said BNP had given threat that they would topple the government on December 10, but they themselves have been defeated.”You (BNP) should keep in mind that the base of the government and Awami League is very deep in this soul,” he said.The AL joint general secretary said BNP has been giving such threats over the last 14 years but they didn’t get any benefit.About the news of world leaders’ statement over Dr Muhammad Yunus, Hasan said it cannot be said a statement rather it is an advertisement.”An advertisement has been published after the names of 40 persons in Washington Post at a cost of nearly Taka one crore. There is difference between an advertisement and a statement,” he said.On March 7, a full-page ad lauding Dr Muhammad Yunus, Owner of Grameen Telecom and owner of around 34 percent share of Grameen Phone, was published in the Washington Post after the names of 40 renowned personalities of the world.About the matter, the minister further said: “Dr Yunus is a senior citizen of Bangladesh. Showing due honor and respect, I want to say that I didn’t see issuance of statement through ad in such a way in Bangladesh. I don’t know whether it happens in the international arena or not. The question is that how much logical the issuance of statement through ad and publishing it by paying a crore of money is.”He said: “In any way, Dr Yunus is a Nobel laureate. Publishing such statement through ad in favour of him tarnished his personality. My question is that from where did he get such money?”After the view-exchange meeting, social organisation for security of rivers-Nongor Trust president Sumon Shams handed over a copy of ‘River Issue’ of Nongor, a mouthpiece of river culture and art and literature, published in February to Dr Hasan Mahmud, who is also an environmentalist.The minister lauded the role of Nongor in protecting river and ecology in the last two decades and wished the organization’s future success.On May 23, 2004, around 200 people including mother of Sumon Shams were killed as a lunch named MV Lighting Sun capsized in Meghna river in Chandpur. Following the incident of the launch capsize, social organization Nongor has been working with the pledge to help ensure river security and protect environment.

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