DHAKA, May 22, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that BNP is yet to come out of the ill politics of killing and murder. 

"BNP's Rajshahi district unit convener gave death threat to the Prime Minister, which proves that BNP is actually doing the politics of conspiracy. This is actually flowing in the minds of BNP leaders and the party. And it was accidentally disclosed by their Rajshahi district unit convener," he said.

Dr Hasan, also Awami League (AL) joint general secretary, made the remarks, replying to a question from journalists after exchanging views with newly elected executive committee members of Directors' Guild Bangladesh, a television drama director's organization, at his ministry office in the Secretariat here. 

Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md. Humayun Kabir Khandaker was present on the occasion.

Replying to another question from journalists regarding the issue of alert message by the US Embassy in Bangladesh for its citizens, Dr Hasan termed it as the outcome of BNP's evil politics.

"It is very simple for the US Embassy to do this. The way BNP has started vandalizing vehicles and setting those (vehicles) on fire, the US has warned its citizens based on these incidents. If BNP and its alliance continue such atrocities, many (countries) would issue warnings. This is the result of BNP's ill-politics," he said.

About the quality of the programmes of Bangladesh Television (BTV), the minister said considering the whole country, it's proved that people watch BTV more than any other TV channels. 

"Many qualitative changes have been brought in the BTV programmes. Quality of BTV programmes is now much better than any other television," he added.

Dramas, tele-films and cinemas should have message for the society:

Earlier, at the meeting with the Directors' Guild, Dr Hasan said the government is encouraging all the television channels to make TV serials -- based on the country's tradition, culture and heritage -- involving Bangladesh's artistes and co-artistes so that the serials can teach the society good things simultaneously.

"If any serial or drama has a social welfare message besides entertaining audiences, I observe it as appropriate," he added. 

At the meeting Directors' Guild President Ananta Hira placed three proposals which includes- inclusion of a Director's Guild representative in the Film Artistes Welfare Trust, giving the National Film Award to telefilms under a separate category and giving state recognition to the profession of those who work for television.

Vice-President Manoj Sengupta proposed for giving the Directors' Guild members the opportunity to work at BTV in rotation.

Dr Hasan assured the Directors' Guild leaders of reviewing the proposals and said as the number of TV channels in Bangladesh is increasing, the number of dramas and country based serial is also increasing turning it into an emerging sector. 

"We have curbed the broadcasting of foreign serials arbitrarily on private television channels in Bangladesh. No television channel is allowed to broadcast more than one serial simultaneously. We get requests to allow serials from many countries but we don't approve all of them because our social system is different from the social system of those countries," he said. 

Noting that many televisions have become aware of this and are making their own serials, the information minister said earlier there was no need for permission in this regard. 

"We have taken this measure ever since the Prime Minister gave me the responsibility of this ministry," he added.

Congratulating the Directors' Guild's newly elected executive committee members, Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker urged them to work for the welfare of the country as well as the people. 

Directors' Guild vice presidents Kaiser Ahmed and Ashraful Alam Rantu, General Secretary SM Kamruzzaman Sagar, joint general secretaries Feroze Khan and Rasheda Akhter Lazuk, Finance Secretary Abu Raihan Md Jewel, Organizing Secretary Shamim Reza Jewel, Publicity and Publication Secretary Zahir Khan, Training and Archive Affairs Secretary Shubhra Khan, Information and Technology Affairs Secretary Sabuj Khan, Law and Welfare Affairs Secretary Tariq Muhammad Hasan, Office Secretary Sayeed Rahman and executive members Deen Muhammad Montu, Syed Awlad, Gazi Apel Mahmud, Feroz Ahmed Dulal, Shahidul Islam Runu, Shaheen Mahmud and Nasir Uddin Masud joined the meeting.