Bangladesh's prime minister threatens country's leading English language newspaper

[Zabaniyah]

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today warned of actions against the country's leading English daily, The Daily Star, for what she said “patronising banned militant organisation Hizb-ut Tahrir by publishing its poster”.

"Action will be taken against those who tried to patronise Hizb-ut Tahrir by publishing its poster," she told the parliament amidst thumping of desks by lawmakers.

"Publishing a poster of a banned organisation means helping its publicity," she added.
Ruling Awami League and opposition Jatiya Party lawmakers supported the PM's observations by shouting “yes”.

Hasina, also leader of the House, was replying to a query from JP lawmaker Pir Fazlur Rahman who had wanted to know whether the premier would take any measurers against Hizb-ut Tahrir so that it cannot emerge in Bangladesh like Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

Referring to The Daily Star, the PM said, "It's most unfortunate that The Daily Star has published a poster of Hizb-ut Tahrir, which was pasted in a corner of Banglamotor, giving it a huge space.

“Maybe none would have read that poster pasted in a corner of Bangla Motor. Whether [it] writes negatively or positively, I think giving such a big coverage of the poster is tantamount to patronising Hizb-ut Tahrir."

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami league, said newspapers should not publish anything that might harm the country or become harmful to the nation.

"But it's not understandable to me why [they] did this. But we are taking appropriate measures against them [DS]," she said.

Earlier on February 15, Shahjalal Kibria, a lawyer of Dhaka Judge's Court filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Chief News Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and Chief Photographer Sk Enamul Haq for publishing a photograph of Hizb-ut Tahrir poster under the headline 'Fanatics raise their ugly heads again' on February 11.

Hasina said her government banned Hizb-ut Tahrir much earlier and its leader was arrested and a case was lodged against him so that they cannot carry out any subversive activities.
PM warns Daily Star

Mahfuz Anam's response here:
Commentary by Mahfuz Anam<br>PM’s Threat of Action Against The Daily Star | Free media not the enemy

Not in the mood to post Mahfuz Anam's wall of text. But this is just hilarious!

They deleted the article: "Fanatics raise their ugly heads again"
Fanatics raise their ugly heads again - Google অনুসন্ধান

If this is so, why write a response article in the first place?

Just because I saw some lights in the sky doesn't mean I saw an alien spacecraft.

BTVzisation of Bangladeshi media as we speak

It also shows that our Honorable Prime Minister is clearly paranoid. So much so, going against certified morons like Mahfuz Anam and his kind.

 

[bdslph]

bd new media is not as freedom like before

 

[khair_ctg]

Daily Star patronizes the BAL and its far-leftist allies. this is such a stunt

 

[extra terrestrial]

Don't know about others but this could spark huge protests from the leftists.

 

[Luffy 500]

Don't know about others but this could spark huge protests from the leftists.

Protest and that too from leftists? Why would leftists protest against a regime that favors them?

 

[extra terrestrial]

Protest and that too from leftists? Why would leftists protest against a regime that favors them?

Not really, the government is not favoring them. The leftists have their own grudges against the government, a lot of issues are there, one of them is the Shahbag movement which was devastated by the BCL intrusion led by Imran H Sarkar. If you watch the talk shows, you'll see the most effective criticisms against the government are from the leftists. Besides, the leftists in Bangladesh are mostly divided into two groups, pro-Russia and pro-China, the pro-China people are the biggest critics of the government.

Here, any sort of threat to the media won't be tolerated by them since this is the only major medium to propagate their ideology. Daily Star is a known leftist media outlet, so are the other major dailies.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Protest and that too from leftists? Why would leftists protest against a regime that favors them?

Last time I saw those Shahbaghis (which TDS supports), they were dispersed with tear gas grenades by the police.

Possible reason is due to the ruling party's fear of the likes of Hefazat.

Not really, the government is not favoring them. The leftists have their own grudges against the government, a lot of issues are there, one of them is the Shahbag movement which was devastated by the BCL intrusion led by Imran H Sarkar. If you watch the talk shows, you'll see the most effective criticisms against the government are from the leftists. Besides, the leftists in Bangladesh are mostly divided into two groups, pro-Russia and pro-China, the pro-China people are the biggest critics of the government.

Here, any sort of threat to the media won't be tolerated by them since this is the only major medium to propagate their ideology. Daily Star is a known leftist media outlet, so are the other major dailies.

Grudges? Sure. But they won't be able to do anything about it. They had to delete that article in the end.

If you control the media, it helps overcome many, many obstacles. That is partly how they are holding onto power, and appears to remain so for a long time.

 

[Luffy 500]

Not really, the government is not favoring them. The leftists have their own grudges against the government, a lot of issues are there, one of them is the Shahbag movement which was devastated by the BCL intrusion led by Imran H Sarkar. If you watch the talk shows, you'll see the most effective criticisms against the government are from the leftists. Besides, the leftists in Bangladesh are mostly divided into two groups, pro-Russia and pro-China, the pro-China people are the biggest critics of the government.

Here, any sort of threat to the media won't be tolerated by them since this is the only major medium to propagate their ideology. Daily Star is a known leftist media outlet, so are the other major dailies.

badal/inus r all with BAL. And CPB type parties r very much pro-regime IMO. If they were threatening gov would not have allowed them in talk-shows. I think u will agree that there is media blackout now. Daily star and prothom alo r always cautious abt not crossing the red lines of the regime.

As for toleration, what can leftists do? They r electorally non-existent and lack cadre based street power.

U still think shabag was not setup by BAL from the very beginning?

Btw leftist who r represented by daily star type outlet r pro-russia/pro-india NOT pro-china.

Last time I saw those Shahbaghis (which TDS supports), they were dispersed with tear gas grenades by the police.

Possible reason is due to the ruling party's fear of the likes of Hefazat.

Did u see the kind of reaction the regime showed against student gathering in AIUB? The policeleague was prepared for riots. Its paranoia abt possible anti-regime mass movements IMO.

As for shabagis, do they even exists? Leftists don't have cadre based street power as they r electorally non-existent in BD. Yeah but they have massive media power .

 

[Zabaniyah]

These talk shows should be banned. So useless and pathetic.

Did u see the kind of reaction the regime showed against protest in AIUB? The policeleague was prepared for riots. Its paranoia abt possible anti-regime mass movements IMO.

As for shabagis, do they even exists? Leftists don't have cadre based street power as they r electorally non-existent in BD. Yeah but they used to have massive media power before the awamization of media.

I'm not aware of AIUB. What happened? Most of the criminal activities are done by the police anyways

Shahbaghis are close to non-existent. As far as leftists go, there are divisions within them. Would all leftists agree with what Hasina is doing to realize her dead father's vision? Her current policies mirror just that.

Media can be a very powerful tool if used right. And the AL know how to use it to their will. They used media power even before they came to power.

 

[Luffy 500]

These talk shows should be banned. So useless and pathetic.

No they have talk shows in N.korea too.

I'm not aware of AIUB. What happened? Most of the criminal activities are done by the police anyways

Shahbaghis are close to non-existent. As far as leftists go, there are divisions within them. Would all leftists agree with what Hasina is doing to realize her dead father's vision? Her current policies mirror just that.

Media can be a very powerful tool if used right. And the AL know how to use it to their will. They used media power even before they came to power.

Well as far as i know, AIUB students were protesting against doing classes during blockade & strike and there were riot police on standby.

Leftists like AL r also indian dalals.

AL pioneered the use of media propaganda in BD.

 

[extra terrestrial]

Grudges? Sure. But they won't be able to do anything about it. They had to delete that article in the end.

If you control the media, it helps overcome many, many obstacles. That is partly how they are holding onto power, and appears to remain so for a long time.

Well, yeah, the situation is like jor jar mulluk tar, but still IMO they shouldn't be underestimated, staging something like the Shahbag movement is a unique achievement in itself (whatever happened later). Not to forget their revolutionary skills, their supporters are limited but then they are firm believers in their ideology, something which is absent in both AL and BNP.

badal/inus r all with BAL. And CPB type parties r very much pro-regime IMO. If they were threatening gov would not have allowed them in talk-shows. I think u will agree that there is media blackout now. Daily star and prothom alo r always cautious abt not crossing the red lines of the regime.

You really think government is allowing them? Well I heard about one scholar, left leaning, who was invited to give a speech in the National Defence College but was not cleared by DGFI, later he got to know that one of his comment criticising the government in a talk show was the main reason.

There's no doubt about the media blackout.

As for toleration, what can leftists do? They r electorally non-existent and lack cadre based street power.

You need to visit the public universities, most of the professors as well as some of the brightest students are leftists and as I said, they are limited in number but firm believers in their ideology, quite similar to the Jamaat supporters.

U still think shabag was not setup by BAL from the very beginning?

Yep, it was setup by some professors of journalism and history departments of Dhaka University. AL cunningly intruded the BCL cadres led by Imran H Sarkar and succeeded to get hold of it.

 

[Luffy 500]

You really think government is allowing them? Well I heard about one scholar, left leaning, who was invited to give a speech in the National Defence College but was not cleared by DGFI, later he got to know that one of his comment criticising the government in a talk show was the main reason.

intellectuals like the newage editor and farhad mazar are also left-leaning. There r many anti-awami left leaning personalities but what BD people in general understands by left leaning is- inu/badal type indian dalals. SO i do think that the gov is controlling the majority of them.

There's no doubt about the media blackout.

And in such police state like BD , the regime lives in constant paranoia. Friends/allies of the regime today may become enemies the next day.

You need to visit the public universities, most of the professors as well as some of the brightest students are leftists and as I said, they are limited in number but firm believers in their ideology, quite similar to the Jamaat supporters.

I know. But the point is they r numerically insignificant. JeI also have a strong electoral base unlike leftists. Why do u think the shabag circus show , even after so much state support died out? They r a fringe minority confined to few elites in dhaka.

Yep, it was setup by some professors of journalism and history departments of Dhaka University. AL cunningly intruded the BCL cadres led by Imran H Sarkar and succeeded to get hold of it.

I don't think the group who organised it did so without the consent of AL. But u would agree , it perfectly suited AL. There were some serious scandals like padma/hallmark/sharemarket around that time.