BNP went to ACC to stage drama: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud Monday said the countrymen laugh when the world champion in corruption talks about corruption. “In fact, BNP went to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to stage a drama. I saw on television that Alal and Dulal went to ACC on behalf of those who became world champions in corruption. I think, if the ACC ask them (BNP) then the commission would know the information of lootings through ‘Hawa Bhaban’ and how the country became champions in corruption for five consecutive times,” he said.

The minister told the reporters after giving PIB-Sohel Samad Journalism Award at the meeting room of his ministry at the Secretariat in the capital.

Replying to a query on science teacher Ridoy Mandal, Hasan expressed his satisfaction over his bail, saying the incident of Mandal is really very regrettable and unexpected. After the bail, he (Mandal) again claimed that he became a victim of an internal conspiracy of teachers, he added.

Replying to another query over a comment of the BNP secretary general on Pakistan’s recent issue, the minister said, “We are telling for long that Pakistan is the idol of BNP and their collaborators. “BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman tried to make a confederation with Pakistan. But he couldn’t. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has cleared that they are following Pakistan till now and they want to take the country to Pakistani ideology,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Earlier, the minister handed over the award and cheque to journalist Syed Badrul Ahsan.

In his speech, Hasan congratulated Badrul and extended thanks to the family of late journalist Sohel Samad and PIB to introduce the award since 1999. He said such awards would play a pivotal role in creating talented journalists in the country.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) director general Zafar Wazed and awardee Syed Badrul Ahsan, among others, addressed the function. Syeda Jakia, wife of Badrul, and PIB officials were present at the function.

Badrul writes articles regularly at the country's newspapers including Asian Age, New Nation, Morning Sun, Bangladesh Observer, the daily Indpendent, News Today and the Daily Star. He was also discharged his duty as a press minister at Bangladesh High Commission to London from 1997 to 2000.

Badrul wrote a number of books including ‘From Revel to Founding Father: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’, ‘Glory and Disappear: The Politics of Tajuddin Ahmed’, and ‘The History Makers in Our Times’.