BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on Friday protested and condemned the sealing off of the printing press of the Bengali daily ‘Inqilab’ and arrest of its three journalists.
In a statement, she demanded reopening of the daily and other closed media houses. The former Prime Minister urged the government to release all arrested journalists.
Khaleda Zia said that freedom of expression and freedom of press are the two of fundamental rights in a democratic society. “Closure of newspaper is not a good sign for democracy”, she said. She alleged that people’s rights had been enveloped during the Awami League government in unfair way. The government is curtailing dissidents’ views, freedom of press and journalists and basic rights of people after assuming power she said.
Meanwhile, BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday night protested the closure of the daily Inqilab and arrest of its journalists. The present government sealed off the printing press of Dainik Inqilab and arrested its journalists for publishing a ‘true’ report against the government, he added.
The BNP leader demanded immediate reopening of the press and release of the detained journalists.
