BNP wants countrymen to stay poor: Hasan

Special Correspondent    |    ০৭:০৬ পিএম, ২০২২-০৩-১২

 Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the world community has recognized the unprecedented development of Bangladesh in the last 13 years though it is difficult for BNP to accept this advancement.

"It is difficult for BNP to accept the development as they don't like the progress of the countrymen. And BNP wants the people of the country to remain poor. But the whole world has recognized the development of Bangladesh in the last 13 years," he said. The minister told reporters after addressing a function to distribute Telepress-TRUB (Television Reporters Unity of Bangladesh) Media Award 2022 at Dhaka Club in the capital.

Jatiya Press Club president Farida Yeasmin addressed the function as special guest with TRUB president Salam Mahmud in the chair.

Hasan said the country is marching ahead indomitably under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the per capita income is now about 2600 US dollar. And the world community, including the IMF and the World Bank, has accepted the progress, he added.

He said the country left behind Pakistan in per capita income many days ago. And currently, Bangladesh left behind India in this sector (per capita income), he added.
He said the purchase power of the countrymen and the rate of GDP growth have increased. The position of the country is on the top among the 20 countries which achieved positive GDP growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

But, he said, the BNP leaders don't want to accept the development as they don't like the progress of the people of the country. BNP's former finance minister had told in parliament that 'it is not good to be self-sufficient in food . . . then we will not get help or charity from outside', he added.

The minister said the persons, who have such mentality, would not like the progress. For this, they (BNP) are giving such statements to create confusion among the people, he added.

Replying to a query over a comment BNP leaders on caretaker government, Hasan said there is no scope of caretaker government as per the constitution. The polls will be held under the Election Commission and the government would discharge its duty as election-period government, he added.

In fact, he said, the isolated BNP is afraid of the elections as Begum Zia and Tarique Rahman are not able to take part in polls as they are convicted by the courts. In the function, Hasan said his ministry has taken different pragmatic and time-befitting steps to bring discipline in the mass media. "We have brilliant directors and our artistes are nice and smart. They are also good in acting. There is no need to bring second or third grade artistes from abroad," he added.

The minister congratulated the winners. The awardees included folk singer Mamtaz Begum, MP, writer Anisul Haque, singer Dinat Jahan Munni and TV journalist Shafiullha Suman.