BNP alleged on Saturday that the central bank’s Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) had searched for the bank details of 11 leading journalists as part of a government move to gag the media.
“The government has long passed various black laws to suppress the media. They are now trying to shut down online news portals through judicial channels, â€said Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, deputy secretary general of BNP.
Speaking at a protest rally in the Nayabazar neighborhood, he also said the Bangladesh Bank has now started harassing journalists by sending them letters (asking for their bank details) to silence them. “Basically they’re taking these steps to gag the media and crack down on people. “
Local BNP leaders and activists organized the program to protest a “bogus” campaign against BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his family members.
The BFIU recently sent letters to commercial banks requesting details of the bank accounts of 11 leading journalists.
Rizvi alleged that the leaders of the Awami League – from the prime minister to ministers – used propaganda against Zia and her family members to mislead people. “But people rejected the bogus campaigns with hatred.”
He said the government had failed to act on all fronts as its main goal was corruption and not the welfare of the people.
“The government set a new record for corruption in Bangladeshi history during its current tenure. He lost the ground beneath his feet. The world community has also turned its back on the government, â€said the BNP leader.
Rizvi said different countries around the world are also calling for the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh alongside the people of the country. “The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union are stepping up the pressure to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
He said their party and the people will force the current government to restore democracy to the country.
