Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said the daily Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of Bangladesh.
“The name of the paper is Prothom Alo (first light), but it lives in darkness. Prothom Alo is the enemy of Awami League, democracy and the people of the country,” she told the parliament.
The premier made the remarks, joining the discussion on a motion placed by her in the House, marking the 50 years (Golden Jubilee) of the Bangladesh National Parliament. This was also her valedictory speech in the 22nd session of the current parliament.
She said the newspaper asked a 7-year old child to tell a lie, handing him Tk10. They recorded his remark –- “We want freedom of rice, fish and meat”--- and published it.
“I am very sorry to say that they never want stability to remain in this country,” she said.
The premier said the newspaper was very happy in 2007 when the emergency was declared and the two newspapers got engaged wholeheartedly at that time.
Without mentioning the name, she also criticized the US saying that the country talks against corruption, but they have been advocating for convicted persons in graft charges.
“They want to bring such a government here, scraping democracy, which would have no democratic existence –-- (that means) undemocratic trend,” she said, adding: “Some local (so-called) intellectuals who live on selling their intellects obey them.”
