Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured a journalist, who was chided by Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain for his questions, that he does not need to worry about his security, reports BSS.
According to prime minister’s Assistant Press Secretary Asif Kabir, Hasina’s comments came as Jamuna Television Senior Reporter Vaskar Bhadury informed the her that he was threatened by the Oikya Front leader and he felt insecure after receiving such threats.
The prime minister asked him not to be worried about his security.
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Vaskar met the prime minister on the sidelines of a discussion arranged by Bangladesh Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on the occasion of the Victory Day. Hasina, the Awami League president, chaired the discussion.
She came down hard on opposition Jatiya Oikya Front leader Dr Kamal Hossain for issuing threats to newsmen, asking what type of governance someone would deliver who intimidates reporters just for asking a question.
“It is clear what type of good governance they will deliver if they assume state power, since they threaten reporters to scare them shouting ‘khamosh’ (shut up),” Asif Kabir quoted the prime minister as saying.
Sheikh Hasina, however, expected that no such threat could bar free and fair journalism in the country.
Also Read- Dr Kamal loses his cool over questions regarding Jamaat
Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday lashed out at journalists when he was asked about his stance on Jamaat-e-Islami, which had openly opposed Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971.
He was visibly angry when the exchange took place between him and the reporters, after Dr Kamal and other Oikya Front leaders paid respects to the 1971 martyred intellectuals at the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial in Dhaka’s Mirpur in the morning.
On Friday, when journalists asked where he stood on the fact that Jamaat-affiliated individuals were able to contest the upcoming polls only because of their association with Oikya Front through BNP, Dr Kamal lashed out.
Flying into rage and visibly shaking, he replied: “These questions should not arise at all. You [journalists] are saying useless things. How much have you been paid to ask these questions? Who paid you?”
“What’s your name? I will remember your face... How dare you disrespect the martyrs at their very memorial? Think of the martyrs... Have some respect for them. Shut up! Shut up!” said Dr Kamal.
