Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Aug 23, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury today said that political parties unable to understand the aspirations of the people have no future in Bangladesh.

"After the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's regime in the mass uprising, the expectations and aspirations of the people have increased. Political parties that fail to understand this will have no place in Bangladesh's politics in the future," he said.

Khasru was addressing a seminar titled "Media during the Fascist Era, Current Situation: People's Expectations" organized by the Ziaur Rahman Study Circle, USA at the CRAB auditorium in Segunbagicha here.

He said the incidents that occurred during the Sheikh Hasina regime, including media closures, were natural for the Awami League to maintain power. "They had to survive by taking away the rights of the media," he added.

The BNP leader alleged that during the previous government, not only journalism but even genuine business activities were hampered. Ordinary businessmen did not have opportunities for business. 

"The same has happened in the case of journalism," he said.

The senior BNP leader said "We have to democratize our economy. Democratizing politics alone is not enough; democratic practices should extend to the economy and media as well."

He said, "Democracy cannot be achieved simply by forming a government through voting. If democracy is not reflected in every sphere, it will not function properly. Politics cannot succeed if the economy is not democratized and ordinary people cannot participate. Likewise, if journalists cannot work freely, democracy cannot truly be realized."

BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's former senior assistant press secretary Ashiq Islam presented the keynote paper at the seminar.

In his paper, he said the Awami League government enacted the Digital Security Act in 2018 to permanently obstruct the media and prevent journalists from practicing objective journalism.

He added that under this law, a total of 1,436 cases were filed from October 2018 to September 2023, involving at least 4,520 people.

Among them, at least 451 journalists faced cases during the five-year period, he said. Of these, 209 were affiliated with national-level media outlets, while 197 were local journalists. Ashiq Islam further stated that at least 97 journalists were arrested, including 50 local reporters.

BNP Chairperson's Advisory Council member Dr. Ziauddin Haider and Bangladesh Pratidin Executive Editor Manjurul Islam spoke as special guests at the event.

The seminar was presided over by Mohammad Kashem, CEO of the Ziaur Rahman Study Circle, USA, and moderated by Mursalin Nomani, former president of Dhaka Reporters' Unity.

Didarul Alam, Joint Secretary of Dhaka Journalists' Union, and GM Rajib Hossain, Deputy Chief News Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), among others, also spoke at the seminar.