DHAKA, Aug 24, 2023 (BSS)- Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP leaders should think whether they will be used as lathiyal (club-man) of Tarique Rahman or exist as a political party.

“In fact, Tarique Rahman doesn’t want nobody in his party will run in the polls as long as he himself cannot run in the elections,” Hasain said.

Tarique doesn’t want to allow any of his party man to run in any local government level or national elections. Even, he would not allow anybody to take oath if he/she is elected in the poll, the minister said.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected as a lawmaker in the 11th Jatiya Sangsad, but Tarique Rahman didn’t allow him to take oath,” he noted. 

The minister said these while addressing a discussion marking the National Mourning Day organized by Bangladesh Chalachchitra League at Bangladesh Films Development Corporation (BFDC) here.

Dr Hasan said, “I would like to ask a question to the BNP leaders and workers why you are associated with BNP which doesn’t allow you to contest in vote?” 
“So, you should think whether you will be used as club-man of Tarique Rahman or exist as a political party.”

Hasan said Bangladesh is marching ahead indomitably under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. If BNP and their allies don't create obstacles Bangladesh would have been achieved progress in more quick pace. 

He said BNP-Jamaat and their allies don’t see any development in the country. After taking a ride on Padma Bridge, Hasan said, BNP’s secretary general saw no development.

The information minister said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has constructed 560 new mosques across the country for promotion of Islam while BNP had blasted bombs in 500 places at a time. This is the deference between Awami League and BNP, he said.

Hasan said, the AL government has reached electricity to the doorsteps of people while BNP had set fire on power stations. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has distributed books to all school students, on the other hand, BNP had bunt the schools into ashes, he added.

Dr Hasan said BNP leaders suffer from heartburning when law enforcers arrest militants or take any action against them. The present AL government would have been more successful in eliminating the militants if BNP would not patronize the militants and forge unity with them, he added. 

He said BNP visits the foreign embassies instead of going to the countrymen. BNP couldn't take the anti-government movement to its peak as it failed to woo public support and global community as well, he said.

About the film industry, the information minister said the film industry started its journey in 1957 with the patronization of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, realising the contribution of films in the society, had tabled a bill in the provincial assembly for the establishment of Film Development Corporation (FDC) in 1957 which later led to establishment of the FDC.

He said a number of epoch making cinemas were made and artists were born through the FDC and the movies had played a big role in building the movement of independence and building post-independent Bangladesh.

About Bangabandhu and politics, Dr Hasan said if a politician does politics for power, he or she may come to power, but they does not get a place in the pages of history. 

Bangabandhu did never do politics for power. For this, Bangabandhu is the greatest Bangalee of all times, he added.

AL Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, MP, and Chalachchitra League chief advisor Freedom Fighter Ahsan Ullah Moni, among others, addressed the discussion as special guests while senior advisor Mia Alauddin was in the chair.

Chalachchitra League advisor Freedom Fighter Delowar Jahan Janthu, vice president Dilara Yesmin, director SA Haque and Freedom Fighter Abu Musa Debu, among others, also spoke while director Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar conducted it.

BFDC director general Nuzhat Yesmin and film artists were present in the discussion.