MM Rahmatullah: Even though the country was freed from fascism through the popular uprising, the conspirators identified by the Sheikh Hasina government are continuing the conspiracy. They are trying to destabilize the country by promoting it in different media. Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman has warned that the brokers of fascism must be expelled from the media within 15 days.
He gave this warning at a rally organized by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Journalists Union (DUJ) on Tuesday at the Jatiya Press Club premises to demand the repeal of anti-media freedom laws and a media free from fascism.
In the speech of the chief guest at the rally, Mahmudur Rahman said that those who have taken the side of fascism against the country and the people cannot be journalists. Those who spoke on talk shows to shoot at the movement and ridiculed the movement are not journalists. Everyone should unite against them.
He also said that despite the fall of fascism, the conspiracy against Bangladesh did not stop. Indian imperialism is defeated but they are trying to come back. In the media, Hasina is trying to bring back fascism through the agents identified by the government. 16 years of struggle against fascism, we must continue our struggle. Do not leave the streets until fascism is removed from all sectors of Bangladesh. We have to be united in establishing a democratic government.’
Demanding the interim government to ban Chhatra League, he said that despite repeated calls, South Asia’s most notorious organization Chhatra League has not been banned. On that occasion they are conspiring to create unrest in different places. I would say it is a failure of this government.’
BFUJ President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, Dhaka Journalist Union President Shahidul Islam, General Secretary Khurshid Alam, Chittagong Journalist Union President Md Shahnewaz and others also spoke at the moment.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury said, today I am standing and speaking in a fascist-free country, but the stain of bloodshed by the fascists has not yet dried. Crooked journalists kicked us out of the National Press Club for opposing fascism. During Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, many journalists including Sagar-Rooney were killed. I call upon the owners of the media to immediately remove the journalists who are agents of the fascist government, or the blood of the martyrs of the August uprising will be spilled.
He also said, ‘I call on the interim government to take legal action against the media, the agents of fascism. All restrictive laws created by the fascist government must be abolished to facilitate fair journalism. The right of independent journalism should be ensured by making laws. Journalists should be protected. Newspapers that have been destroyed by the fascist government, including my country, must be adequately compensated.’
Shahidul Islam, President of Dhaka Journalists Union, said in the president’s speech, ’65 journalists were killed during the period of fascism, these murders must be tried. Within 15 days the media should free the agents of fascism, he added.