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 DHAKA, Oct 11, 2021 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP has tarnished the sanctity and image of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) by holding meeting there like BNP's party office.

   "Meetings could be held at the press club against or in favour of the government or civil society. But it is not appropriate to turn the press club into a meeting place alike BNP's Naya Paltan office which did BNP on Sunday," he told newsmen at his ministry office at Secretariat.

   The minister said JPC is an institution of journalists and it is a national institute. It is not proper to hold meetings at the club alike a political party office which did Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and his party-BNP, he added.

   "For this, I personally think that sanctity and dignity of the JPC have been tarnished," said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

   Replying to a query over a call of movement by BNP, the minister said they have been giving such statements of mass uprising since three months after taking office by Awami League in 2009. The fate of every person of the country has been changed due to massive development under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the last 12 and a half years, he added.

   He said the countrymen would never support BNP for their petrol bomb attacks, corruption and for creating 'Bangla Bhai' and 'Shayokh Abdur Rahman'. In fact, BNP is seeing a day dream, he added.

   The minister said BNP often told that national unity must be established. But, BNP has no own unity, he added.

   He said, "I would like to say Mirza Fakhrul to give attention into his own house and take preparation for the next polls."

   About the digitalization of cable networking system, Hasan said a decision was taken in the last meeting on August that clean feed would be implemented from October 1.

   "And they informed the meeting that most of the works of digitalization at Dhaka and Chattogram have been completed. The full digitalization system would be done from November 1," he added.

   He said the government is determined for digitalization and as a result the full broadcast media would be benefitted.

   About a survey by a publication of South Asian region on COVID 19 situation, the minister said the World Health Organization has praised the contribution of the Prime Minister to combating the pandemic.

   Besides, different international newspapers and media praised the role of the premier, he added.