Sculpture controversy an attempt to take country backwards: Information minister
Hasan Mahmud said the people have awakened, and the spark of this awakening will eradicate this evil
A certain quarter wants to take Bangladesh backwards by crafting the controversy surrounding sculptures, Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Thursday.
"The people have awakened, and the spark of this awakening will eradicate this evil," the minister added while attending a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Sangbadpatro Parishad to mark the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the event, held at the Circuit House in Dhaka with the goal to boost the newspaper industry's development and potential, chief guest Hasan Mahmud said, "The journalists should write about the BNP and other quarters who are backing those behind the controversy centring sculptures."
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The minister asked BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to "look at development reports made by the World Bank and IMF in the last 12 years instead of trying to mislead people."
He also commented regarding the BNP, "This party almost always gets confused, and then they try to confuse others too. Criticism is acceptable, but when a confused quarter attempts to confuse other people, it does not make a positive impact on the nation or it citizens."
The minister further said, "Those such as Fakhrul Islam refuse to acknowledge the positive changes in people's lives in the last 12 years. Democracy continues in Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, and no one will be allowed to disrupt it.
"The BNP engaged in arson and terrorism in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and boycotted the polls in 2018. Their goal was to disrupt the democratic process in Bangladesh."
Hasan Mahmud mentioned that the newspaper industry has witnessed much development in the country, and the media – including newspapers – play a very important role in moving the country forward.
BSP President Mohammad Shah Jalal presided over the discussion, while State Minister of Information Murad Hassan, Awami League Advisory Council Member Mozaffar Hossain Paltu and Department of Films and Publications (DFP) Director General SM Golam Kibria spoke among others.
Earlier in the day, the information minister inaugurated a 15-day-long exhibition of photos, posters and supplements, organised by the DFP to mark the Victory Day 2020.
