Those expressing dissent are treated as enemies: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that anyone who expresses a dissenting opinion in the country is treated as an enemy and subjected to false smear campaigns.

He made the remarks on Friday while addressing the opening session of the biannual council of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the National Press Club as the chief guest.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “The entire nation is now waiting for the February election, through which we hope to return to a democratic environment. But to restore a democratic environment, we must value the freedom of the media. There may not be unanimity on every issue in a democracy, but freedom of expression must be respected.”

He added that the kind of smear campaigns carried out on social media against political figures do not strengthen democracy. He said the BNP is a proven political party, whose founder Ziaur Rahman reopened several closed newspapers and ensured media freedom. Later, Begum Khaleda Zia also took necessary steps to uphold media freedom.

Addressing journalists, Mirza Fakhrul said, “To strengthen your rights in jobs and other areas, you must strengthen your union. You must stand strong on your own without becoming subservient to any political party.”

The event was attended by Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, acting BFUJ President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury and others.