Matiur Rahman implicated for publishing facts, says Fakhrul

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam on Saturday alleged that the government is working to either eliminate or silence those who express dissenting views, reports UNB.

“We feel sorrow as we see our virtuous people being sent to jail only for raising voice, though they are not directly involved in politics. Those who think good and try to bring the truth to the spotlight through their write-ups are also being harassed and repressed the same way,” he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while speaking at a discussion held at the National Press Club commemorating noted political scientist and national professor Talukder Maniruzzaman.

Citing an example of efforts to silence the dissents, he said a warrant for the arrest of the Daily Prothom Alo editor, Matiur Rahman, and nine others was issued by a court in a case filed over the death of Naimul Abrar, a student of Dhaka Residential Model College.

“What’s the offence of Matiur Rahman? He used to write occasionally and his newspaper published facts. Only for that, he has been implicated in a case filed in connection with the death (of a student) due to negligence. He was made the prime accused among the other journalists of Prothom Alo,” Fakhrul said.

The same way, he said, Daily Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman was kept in jail for a long time and the newspaper was shut down. “Efforts are on for silencing or eliminating the voices of dissents.”

The BNP leader said the people of the state that was established by freedom fighters now have no rights while the common people have totally become helpless.

He said the spirit of the 1971 liberation war have been destroyed as the ruling party is consciously turning Bangladesh into a failed state.

Amid such a situation, Fakhrul said people must raise their voice and put up a resistance against ‘misrule’. “Talkuder Moniruzzaman had taught us to continue the fight. We’ll surely turn victorious as the people of this country achieved victory through struggles in the past.”

Speaking at the programme, former caretaker government adviser Akbar Ali Khan said Talkuder Moniruzzaman was an ideal teacher in the country. “He was always involved in research work, instead of running for becoming vice-chancellor and proctor of the University.”

He said Moniruzzaman who became the national professor was dedicated to teaching.

Akbar Ali said the education system in the country will develop and get rich further if teachers follow the ideals of the national professor who died on 29 December last year.