Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu on Tuesday claimed that no media organisation had been closed for criticising the government. It encourages criticism, he said in parliament.
“None of the mass media [organisations] were closed for criticising the government. Amar Desh, Islamic TV and Diganta TV were closed temporarily for hurting people’s religious sentiments and instigating communal violence,” he said at a point of order responding to opposition MP Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie’s remark.
“It is a temporary step. The government can arrest anyone or shut down any organisation for violating the laws of the country.”
Inu said the government had taken all the steps to ensure the freedom of press. During the BNP-Jamaat rule and the caretaker government, the media did not have full liberty.
“But during the current government, the media enjoys full freedom. We want criticism. We believe criticism will enrich us. Discussion and criticism should take place. But no media can instigate communal riot or hurt religious sentiments,” he said.
The minister said Mahmudur Rahman, the acting editor of Amar Desh, had been arrested for propagating false information, in relation to the “Skype scandal” and for illegal activities in the press.
“There is no connection between Mahmudur Rahman’s arrest and the freedom of press. He was not arrested for expressing a different opinion or for having a different ideology.”
He said Amar Desh’s printing press had been closed temporarily, and the government had no plan to cancel its declaration.
Islamic TV and Diganta TV have already replied to the government’s show cause notice, he added.
Earlier, Annie claimed that the government was interfering in the freedom of the press by shutting down two channels and the daily Amar Desh.