AL claims newspaper report against Joy, Tawfiq baseless
Monday, 21 December 2009
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam has claimed that the newspaper report published against Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury is baseless and violation of ethics of journalism.
Addressing a press briefing at the party office Sunday, Mr Islam said some BNP-Jamat-backed newspapers, including Amar Desh, have been running 'false reports' to fulfil the agenda of their masters and tarnishing the image of the present government, the ruling party and Joy.
"The reports have been published without verifying facts just to defame Joy and others which has gone against the principles of journalism," the AL spokesman said, reports UNB.
Mr Ashraful Islam said this is part of "minus-two" conspiracy to keep Joy out of politics in the future. "This is simply a bid to create confusion among people, divert their attention and slow down the pace of development."
He said the newspapers have also been publishing the statements of AL leaders in a distorted way as they protested the news report carried out by Amar Desh at the behest of its Editor and mastermind of 'Uttara Conspiracy' Mahmudur Rahman.
Replying to a question, Mr Ashraf said they would take legal actions after discussion with party chief Sheikh Hasina and people concerned.
Asked about any possible party programme in protest against the reports, he said the final decision would be taken after discussion.
He alleged that the previous BNP-Jamat alliance government could not increase power generation and not even could solve the country's energy crisis. "They don't want any solution to the energy and power crises in the country."
Describing the present government's support to media people, he said it has already decided in a Cabinet meeting to discontinue 'immediate arrest warrant' against journalists in defamation cases. "A bill in this connection will be placed in the next session of Jatiya Sangsad."
He urged the media people to be objective while filing their stories.
A US$100 billion defamation suit was filed Sunday against daily Amar Desh editor and three others of the newspaper for publishing 'false report' about Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
The accused in the multi-billion-dollar damage suit are acting editor of the daily Mahmudur Rahman, publisher Md Hasmat Ali and its news editor.
Earlier, the daily Amar Desh in its December 17 issue published news headlined 'Allegation of $5.0 million bribes against Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi and Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy'.
The Amar Desh report was about receiving kickbacks from an unsolicited deal with US oil company Chevron.
Addressing a press briefing at the party office Sunday, Mr Islam said some BNP-Jamat-backed newspapers, including Amar Desh, have been running 'false reports' to fulfil the agenda of their masters and tarnishing the image of the present government, the ruling party and Joy.
"The reports have been published without verifying facts just to defame Joy and others which has gone against the principles of journalism," the AL spokesman said, reports UNB.
Mr Ashraful Islam said this is part of "minus-two" conspiracy to keep Joy out of politics in the future. "This is simply a bid to create confusion among people, divert their attention and slow down the pace of development."
He said the newspapers have also been publishing the statements of AL leaders in a distorted way as they protested the news report carried out by Amar Desh at the behest of its Editor and mastermind of 'Uttara Conspiracy' Mahmudur Rahman.
Replying to a question, Mr Ashraf said they would take legal actions after discussion with party chief Sheikh Hasina and people concerned.
Asked about any possible party programme in protest against the reports, he said the final decision would be taken after discussion.
He alleged that the previous BNP-Jamat alliance government could not increase power generation and not even could solve the country's energy crisis. "They don't want any solution to the energy and power crises in the country."
Describing the present government's support to media people, he said it has already decided in a Cabinet meeting to discontinue 'immediate arrest warrant' against journalists in defamation cases. "A bill in this connection will be placed in the next session of Jatiya Sangsad."
He urged the media people to be objective while filing their stories.
A US$100 billion defamation suit was filed Sunday against daily Amar Desh editor and three others of the newspaper for publishing 'false report' about Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
The accused in the multi-billion-dollar damage suit are acting editor of the daily Mahmudur Rahman, publisher Md Hasmat Ali and its news editor.
Earlier, the daily Amar Desh in its December 17 issue published news headlined 'Allegation of $5.0 million bribes against Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi and Prime Minister's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy'.
The Amar Desh report was about receiving kickbacks from an unsolicited deal with US oil company Chevron.