DHAKA: BNP standing committee member MK Anwar Tuesday alleged that “repression” on journalists during the regime of present government has broken all previous records.

“Repression is now being unleashed on the newspapers and journalists while freedom of press is on the wane,” said the former minister while addressing as chief guest a roundtable meet.

Bangladesh National Awami Party organised the roundtable at the National Press Club commemorating the 253rd anniversary of historical Plasey Day.

Blaming the government for “politicising” the judiciary and administration, he said, ”The government is destroying the judiciary, the last shelter for the mass people.”

MK Anwar said the people would never accept the present government’s decision on transit and port facilities to India. “The people would do whatever they should to oust the government.”

He pointed out that the World Bank, the IMF and the Bureau of Statistics differ with the government’s claim on 6 percent GDP growth in the country. Some 40 lakh people have been pushed into poverty in last 2/3 years, the BNP leader said.

Among others, assistant secretary-general of Jamaat Abdul Quader Mollah, chairman of Jatiya Ganotantrik Party Shafiul Alam Pradhan and secretary-general of Bangladesh Jatiya Party Abu Naser M Rahmatullah spoke at the function.

BDST: 04;00 Hrs, June 22, 2010.
HJS/MS/LY/MUA