Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan said on Sunday the people have no right to speak (freedom of speech) in the country.
"Where there is no democracy, there may not be freedom of the media. People have no rights to speak. People are being compelled to follow the same line. Considering the present circumstances, media freedom is highly required for saving democracy," he said at a discussion held at the National Press Club marking the World Press Freedom Day.
"Today people of Bangladesh will have to establish their rights to speak, independence and freedom of media," he said.
"It is the responsibility of the government to ensure freedom of media because the general people don't put restriction on freedom of media rather the government itself is doing that," he added.
Mentioning mass media as the fourth pillar of the state, he said that media could play an important role in divulging the truth and exposing unjust, helping a country to rebuild and flourish.
Mr Moyeen Khan, also a former information minister, said that founder of BNP and former President Ziaur Rahman had laid the foundation stone of the National Press Club.
He also said that late Ziaur Rahman had ensured freedom of media.
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