Freedom of ...
Md Masrur Hossain, Physics and Astronomy, University Of British Columbia, Vancouver BC, Canada
During her visit to Dhaka University, our hon'ble PM uttered the long cherished words "I may differ with your opinion but I would defend your freedom of expression till death." OK, that gives us big hope, high hope. Let us be sincere in words and in works. Do you believe what you have said? Do your active party workers (people like to call them 'cadres' for obvious reasons) believe that? Let us have a look at some of the actions BNP has taken: 1) Police attacked a procession in support of the "alternative stream" in Rajshahi and with every effort your government opposed Dr. B Chowdhury's new movement (sending police detectives with video cameras and even sending detectives from the defense), (are you nervous?) 2) Very recently, BNP workers in Jhalakhati attacked journalists, threatened them to life. 3) Ward commissioners were murdered on a regular basis by your party members. 4) These days even your own party workers are being murdered by rival factions in the same party. 5) Just after you came to power, ALL students supporting the main opposition party were evicted from the campus which was led by Alhaz(!!) Nasir-ud-din Pintu. Let us look at the international press freedom index: Bangladesh gets position 118 with North Korea getting the lowest 138. Will you tell us what kind of freedom of expression you are talking about? What actions from your government support your stated positions? Being a former DU student (I just passed in 1992), I have experienced how brutal leaders of your student wing could be if you differ with them. Please try to understand, this is not we want. Being the PM you come with highest power and biggest responsibility. Do you have the heart to listen to the plight of the people? They are crying for justice, for their rights.
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