Does BNP want to restore ‘martial democracy’, asks Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said it is now a question that whether BNP wants to bring back Ziaur Rahman's ‘martial democracy’ era to the country in the name of reforming the state.

"When BNP talks about reforming the state, the countrymen, in fact, get confused thinking that whether BNP wants to bring back martial democracy to the country as the party was born undemocratically," he said.

"Bangladesh is marching across progress indomitably and it is praised by all world leaders, including, the secretary general of the United Nations, the US president and the president of the World Bank. Even, some days ago, the vice president of this region of the World Bank has said that the progress of the country amid global crisis and Covid-19 pandemic is an example to other countries."

Hasan told reporters replying to a query after a view-exchange meeting with the newly-elected committee members of Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) at the ministry.

DRU president Mursalin Nomani and general secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, among others, spoke at the meeting.

Replying to another query over the recent incident with the US ambassador to Dhaka, the minister said, "Our relation with the United States is very incredible and they are our significant development partner. They have played a pivotal role in our progress in the last 50 years. The incident would not have happened if the US ambassador received their memorandum and listened to the relatives of the victims, who were killed without any trial by Ziaur Rahman in 1977."

But, the US envoy's security personnel didn't allow them to hand over the memorandum, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

He said the home minister has explained it elaborately and there was no incident of breaching of security. Some people stood there and tried to draw attention to the US envoy, he added.

Replying to another query over a comment of BNP leader Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the minister said if he thinks that the countrymen don't want this government then BNP should take part in the election. The countrymen didn't respond to their call, he added.