CHATTOGRAM, Feb 28, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said people laugh at BNP hearing its corruption allegation as Bangladesh became champions in corruption during its tenure and it achieved the title of world thief for their misdeeds.
 
"BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and the party's acting chairman were convicted due to corruption and money laundering. The FBI of the USA testified Tarique Rahman's corruption as he siphoned off money abroad. So, it's ridiculous when BNP raises corruption allegations," he said.
 
The minister was addressing the closing ceremony and award distribution function of 21-day long Amar Ekushey Book Fair orgainsed by Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) at a ground near MA Aziz Stadium of the port city.
 
Hasan said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has raised a number of corruption allegations against the present government at a press conference. "But, my question is that the persons, who made Bangladesh champions in corruption for five consecutive times for their own misdeeds, who are they? They are BNP," he added.
 
He said burning books is an offence and on the other hand not reading is also an offence. Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has introduced the practice of providing books among the students at free of cost and more than 35 crore books were distributed in the last more than one era, he added.
 
There is no such a system in any other populous country like Bangladesh, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
 
He said new books were burnt in 2014. About 500 schools were burnt at that time and BNP and their alliances did it in the name of protesting elections, he added.
 
He said BNP not only burnt the books, they also destroyed the future of students. The students screamed hugging the burnt books and it is doubtful whether such has happened in any other country in the world, he continued.
 
About the book fair, the minister said books are an integral part of human life and people are never enriched without reading books.
 
Ekushey Award winner actress Subarna Mustafa, MP, addressed the function as special guest with city mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury in the chair. 
 
Amar Ekushey Book Fair Udjapan Parishad convener councilor Dr Nichar Uddin Ahmed Manju and Chief Executive of city corporation Sheikh Md Touhidul Islam, among others, addressed the function as special guests.