The head of the apex court’s bar association yesterday said the broadcast policy recently approved by cabinet restricted free speech.
“The National Broadcast Policy 2014 which was approved by the cabinet is an attempt to choke the freedom of the mass media in the country. The government is doing it so that its corruption, misrule and terrorist activities remain unexposed,” Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandoker Mahbub Hossain said.
He was speaking at a press conference yesterday at the Bar association auditorium.
Hossain said: “The present government is disconnected from the people. They hold power illegally, dependent on the law enforcement agencies.”
“The government is trying to establish a dictatorship by curtailing freedom of speech which is a basic right in our constitution,” the apex court bar association president said.
“In the past, the government had tried to shut down all newspapers using the 4th Amendment to the constitution. But they failed then and they will fail again,” he added.
“We are announcing our unity with mass media leaders and activists who are trying to stop the government attempt,” said Khandoker Mahbub Hossain.
The Supreme Court Bar Association joint secretary, AKM Rejaul Karim Khandoker, and vice president, Md Khaled, were also present at the press conference.