BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for an end to activities that undermine press freedom in Bangladesh.
"A few reckless provocateurs are attempting to disrupt and destroy press freedom in various ways. This is unacceptable to any conscious or patriotic individual," Fakhrul said on Tuesday.
"I urge them to abandon this catastrophic path of self-destruction and cooperate in institutionalising democracy," he added.
Fakhrul expressed concern over the growing threats to press freedom and the right to free speech, stating that such challenges undermine the struggles and sacrifices made for these rights.
He credited former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia for liberating the press during her tenure in 2001, saying, "Begum Khaleda Zia was the first to ensure complete freedom of the press after coming to power in 2001."
Quoting the editor of Bonik Barta, Fakhrul added, "He told me that press freedom was enjoyed most under Khaleda Zia's government. That is the reality."
"Our young students need to move away from certain actions," he said. "An interim government cannot address everything at once. We must exercise patience to ensure minimum reforms."
Referring to recent statements by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul reaffirmed the party's commitment to reforms before participating in elections. "We are not against reforms. We want to go to elections through necessary reforms," he concluded.
For several days, a group of people, comprising teachers and students from various Islamic institutes, staged protests in front of the Prothom Alo and Daily Star offices, terming the newspapers as leaning towards Indian hegemony. Another group engaged in vandalism at the Prothom Alo office in Rajshahi.
