BNP denounces detention of Prothom Alo reporter Shams

Staff Reporter :
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir protested the detention of Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams by law enforcers.
 “The government will only face losses instead of political gains by arresting any journalist,” Mirza Fakhrul said while speaking at a press conference at party chairperson’s Gulshan office on Wednesday.
He labeled it as an awful incident.
“Somoy Television’s feature last night claimed that Samsuzzaman’s report on March 26 was to embarrass the government,” The BNP Secretary General said.
“It is yet to clear, no one does understand that what crime the journalist has committed… I strongly condemn the detention of Shasuzzaman Shams and demand his immediate unconditional release,” the BNP leader said.
He also said people can question the benefit of independence when they do not get food to eat, and are subjected to repression, suppression, and murder.
The BNP Secretary General accused the government of trying to create a climate of fear across the country by resorting to extrajudicial killing and having people picked up by RAB, DB and other law enforcement agencies ahead of the next polls.
“RAB sent out a message that they have become activated again by killing Sultana Jasmine, an employee of union-level land office in Naogaon,” the BNP Secretary General said.
“This is an incident of serious human rights violation. BNP Standing Committee demands true information be presented in front of the public through an impartial probe immediately,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
The BNP Secretary General also focused on the party’s stance over the Election Commission (EC)’s initiative to sit with parties over political issues.
“No point in sitting with EC that has no power to resolve political crisis,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
The party, however, thanked Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal for sending a letter inviting the BNP for a discussion.
“BNP Standing Committee feels that any discussion or dialogue with the EC will not be fruitful and will be meaningless until the main political crisis regarding the election-time government is resolved,” he said.