Dr. Shafiqur Rahman blames govt for politicising admin

Jamaat Ameer and leader of the opposition in Parliament exchanging views with newspaper editors at his official residence at Minto Road in Dhaka on Monday.

The leader of the opposition and the chief of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Monday accused the government of politicising the administration and moving away from the July Declaration and the referendum promises.

In an opinion exchange with editors of print media outlets at his official residence at Minto Road he said they took to the street in protest as their voices were not heard over the July Declaration and referendum promises.

Dr. Shafique alleged the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party did this as its secured an overwhelming two-thirds majority in Parliament in the last election. He said the opposition cooperated with the government over its good works and lent support in resolving the energy crisis facing the country but have to oppose what it considered wrong and unjust.

He urged the journalists to reflect the correct picture of the society working as mirrors and said his party was open to criticism and would welcome pointing out of mistakes.

The Jamaat chief said the government leaders spoke of justice and press freedom but in practice did not uphold those. 

Senior editors who spoke at the opinion exchange wanted politicians to resolve disputes inside the Parliament instead of taking to the street. They pointed out that aggressive role of the opposition was no less responsible for the failure of democracy in the past.

A large number of newspaper editors were present in the meet addressed by Jai Jai Din editor Shafiq Rehman, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, GreenWatch editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder and Protidiner Bangladesh editor Maruf Khan Sohel among others.

Jamaat leaders including secretary general Mia Golam Parwar, and senior nayebe ameer Abdullah Mohammad Taher MP spoke at the function among others.