Where freedom of expression does not exist, the public essentially have no rights, Professor Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, father of slain publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan, yesterday said.
He alleged that the government was trying to establish an autocracy by suppressing freedom of expression.
The government was taking away democratic rights in the name of development, Prof Fazlul Haque said at a discussion titled “Taking Away Rights of Thought and Freedom of Expression” organised by the Bangladesh Author Camp and the National Mukti Council at the National Press Club.
“Different people may have different opinions – this needs to be respected,” he said, adding: “A just society cannot be created if the right to free thought is infringed upon.”
Speaking at the discussion, Professor Dr Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University’s law department said: “The government’s hands are tied and they can at any time bind the public’s hands.”
He said the government was using the law to suppress freedom of expression. “The government’s strategy for success consisted of conducting mass arrests and crushing freedom of expression.”
Professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University, emeritus professor Serajul Islam Chowdhury and National Mukti Council President Badruddin Umar were among the attendees at the discussion presided over by Professor Fazlul Haque.
Calling freedom of expression a serious issue, Anu said: “People of all walks of life, including writers, singers and politicians, must stand together to raise awareness about it.”