PM sees Khaleda Zia\\\'s role in BDR mutiny

FE Team | Published: August 28, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina alleged Wednesday that BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was involved in the BDR mutiny as she "fled from her house during the mutiny and went underground," reports UNB
She also expressed her suspicion about the involvement of Tarique Rahman in the mutiny as "he called more than 50 times from London during that time."
The PM made the allegations while speaking at a programme at her office (PMO) marking the distribution of financial assistance among the sick, insolvent and injured journalists, as well as the family members of some journalists who have died.
Hasina said: "The BDR mutiny started at about 9:30 am, but the BNP chairperson fled from her cantonment house at about 7:30 am. Why did she leave her house and go underground?"
She mentioned that during the BDR mutiny, Tarique Rahman had "called 40-45 persons" during London time midnight on that day. "What was the mystery of too many phone calls on that day?" she questioned.
The PM said many things would come out if an investigation is carried out in this connection.
She said that BNP is still talking about the BDR mutiny. "Let me ask a question to the BNP chief and her son: Who could be involved in the (BDR) killings?
"The person who left his home can be involved in this incident; otherwise, why that person would leave the house," Hasina said adding that one person had left her house and another person was calling from London.
About the BNP's movement to foil the January 5 election, she said that the vested quarters are in agony as the people of the country have been passing their days in peace. "They are trying to create disturbance in the country by disseminating false information."
The PM termed 'wrong' the decision of BNP not to participate in the January 5 election.
"If any political party takes a wrong decision then that party has to pay for that. They cannot take revenge on the people for their wrong decision," she said.
Another report adds: Defending the recently formulated National Broadcast Policy 2014, Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said Wednesday that the government has formulated it to make the media responsible alongside its freedom.
"Freedom is good but that freedom comes along with some responsibilities…these responsibilities are to the country and State and society. These responsibilities have to be performed," she said.
Replying to criticisms that the government does not believe in the freedom of media, Hasina said: "Had we not believed in press freedom why we had given permission to so many private television channels and newspapers in the country. We've permitted those as we believe in the freedom of press, but freedom doesn't mean waywardness."
The PM went on saying, "While you'll enjoy the right, you'll have to be equally responsible, that's the reality. That's why we've formulated the policy."
Hasina said the government would form a Commission that will be constituted through a search committee. "That commission will look after this policy," she said adding that the government would enact a law in this regard."
She also mentioned that it was the longstanding demand of journalists to formulate a broadcast policy. "We've just fulfilled that demand," she said.
The PM said that the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera are running as per their policies. "While preparing the policy, we followed the BBC policy," she said.
Hasina also mentioned that the BBC once presented wrong information and when it was proved that they had provided wrong information, the BBC director general and other officials concerned quit their posts.  "They have the policy and that's why they resigned," she said.