Activists of the BNP-led 20-party alliance attend a protest rally at Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka yesterday.
Agencies/Dhaka
At least 20,000 opposition supporters rallied in the Bangladeshi capital yesterday to demand the abolition of a new government policy that critics say would muzzle independent television and radio stations.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its 19 allies staged the rally as they launched a string of fresh protests aimed at forcing early elections.
The protests come just months after the ruling Awami League party won parliamentary elections that were boycotted by the opposition.
Between 20,000 and 25,000 people, defying driving monsoon rains, attended the rally in the capital’s historic Suhrawardy Uddyan garden, police inspector Sirajul Islam said.
Senior opposition leader Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the new broadcast policy was “anti-people,” “anti-democracy” and aimed at allowing the government to stay in power forever.
“Mass media comes under attack whenever Awami League comes to power,” Alamgir said, charging that the broadcast policy was designed to silence dissent and conceal government misdeeds.
The government approved the new policy early this month following a string of media reports alleging government corruption.
The Bangladesh chapter of anti-graft group Transparency International has said the policy clashes with the country’s constitution as it bans the broadcast of any programme that undermines or ridicules the armed forces, law enforcement agencies or officers.
“The policy conflicts with the country’s constitution, democratic norms and values, human rights and Right to Information Act,” its chief, Sultana Kamal, said last week.
The government has rejected charges that the policy goes against the constitution.
Alamgir also alleged that the government was using Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police against the opposition and the ruling party ‘cadres’ were killing and repressing the people. “The government has established a reign of terror across the country to perpetuate its rule.”
He said the opposition’s intention was not to grab power or make BNP chief Khaleda Zia the prime minister; their only goal is protecting the people’s rights, democracy, the country and its independence and sovereignty.
He said the Awami League which does not believe in democracy has framed the new policy so that no one can criticise their misdeeds, and control the media and TV talk shows.
Alamgir also slammed the government for its move to restore parliament’s power to remove Supreme Court judges thorough the 16th amendment to the Constitution.
He said the decision of parliament which has no representation of people will be considered as the decision of the Awami League
Yesterday’s rally was the first major protest by BNP-led opposition parties since they boycotted the January 5 polls, alleging they were rigged. The opposition has vowed a surge in action aimed at forcing fresh elections.
The boycott resulted in an easy victory for the Awami League and its allies, which won all the seats.
