DHAKA, Dec 16, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami
League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said BNP has emerged as
the new occupational force in the country.

"Pakistani occupation forces killed unarmed innocent Bangalees. BNP has also
emerged as the new occupational force. They along with the Jamaat killed
innocent people through arson attacks and are taking people hostage," he
said.
 
The information minister told reporters after placing wreaths along with
Awami League (AL) leaders on the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the city's Dhanmondi-32.

Dr Hasan said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared the independence
of Bangladesh on March 25 from here and led the nation to the struggle of
freedom.

He said Bangabandhu had a dream of building a developed country. But he along
with most of his family members was killed brutally just after three and a
half years of the independence, he added.

The minister said Bangladesh is now marching ahead indomitably to materialise
the dream of Bangabandhu under the supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina.
 
He said Bangladesh has turned into a middle-income country and it has only
been possible because of the prudent and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina. Besides, Bangladesh has turned into a country of food surplus
from a country of food deficit, he added.

Bangladesh became 35th largest economy in the world after 14 years under the
charismatic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from its 60th position
just in 2009. "Bangladesh has witnessed a lot of changes over the years and
is still changing under the supervision of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina. Even some surveys showed that Bangladesh stood at
31st position in PPP," he said.
 
Hasan Mahmud said the country would move ahead more if there were no
destructive politics of BNP and Jamaat. Their evil design of politics must be
eradicated, he continued.

Later, the minister inaugurated a victory rally at Jatiya Press Club (JPC)
organised by Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
 
In the inaugural speech, Dr Hasan urged the journalists to hold pen against
BNP's arson attacks.
 
Terming the journalists as the mirror of a society, the minister said BNP is
carrying out attacks on people and public transports in the name of
movements. BNP is announcing programmes of carrying out arson attacks from
hideout in the name of politics, he said.
 
Subversive activities can never be a part of political programmes, Hasan
Mahmud said, urging journalists to hold their pen against the arsonists and
miscreants.

The minister said as many as 32 journalists sustained injuries in BNP attacks
on October 28. Out of them, more than 20 reporters were working in the BNP
beat for long, he said.

JPC president Farida Yesmin, DUJ general secretary Akther Hossain and vice
president Manik Lal Ghosh, among others, addressed the rally with DUJ
president Sohel Haider Chowdhury in the chair.

DUJ former president Quddus Affrad, former general secretaries Azizul Islam
Bhuiyan and Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu, among others, were present in the rally
while DUJ joint secretary Khairul Alam conducted it.