Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam on Thursday said the interim government would not tolerate any attacks on the media and freedom of expression.
At a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, he clarified the government’s position on media freedom, warning that legal steps would be taken against anyone trying to hurt the media freedom.
Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a warning that necessary action will be taken if any media organisation comes under attack.
The ministry expressed serious concern over reports of plans to lay siege to and threats aimed at certain media outlets in Bangladesh.
The interim government, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding media freedom, strongly condemned the threats and any attempts to intimidate the press.
“If such incidents occur, those responsible will face legal consequences,” the statement emphasised.
Mahfuj also said the Bangladesh Chhatra League, students’ wing of Bangladesh Awami League, is now banned and accordingly there are legal barriers to according it publicity through the media. He urged journalists to keep this in mind, to avoid playing any role in publicity of the “terrorist organization” through their media outlets.
At the briefing, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said though BCL has been banned as a terrorist organization, no such decision has been taken regarding its parent organization Awami League, or any other organization.
There is also no initiative to confiscate the assets of the banned organisation for now, she mentioned.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.
