Any media airing Hasina’s speech is siding with her: Hasnat
He reiterated that Hasina and fascism will never be rehabilitated in this country
If any media outlet broadcasts ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's speech, it must be assumed that the media is supporting her, said Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
"Sheikh Hasina and the Chhatra League are no longer relevant in the country. Sheikh Hasina is the butcher of Bangladesh," Hasnat said at a press conference at the organisation's office in Bangla Motor today (5 February).
The event was held to launch a public opinion programme titled "A new Bangladesh in your eyes," organised by the National Citizens Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
At the briefing, Hasnat said, "After 5 August, the chapters of Sheikh Hasina and the Chhatra League are closed. If they were still relevant, they wouldn't have had to flee on that day."
Addressing the media, he questioned, "Why do I still see media hesitating to call Hasina what she truly is? They still refer to her as the former prime minister. Is she a former leader or the 'Butcher of this Motherland'? She has killed 2,000 people to cling to power. Why doesn't the media call her a fascist murderer? If you fail to call her that, you are simply upholding the Awami League's media structure."
Hasnat reiterated that Hasina and fascism will never be rehabilitated in this country.
National Citizens Committee Convener Nasiruddin Patwari, Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, spokesperson Samantha Sharmin, and others were also present at the press conference.
Earlier on 5 December, the International Crimes Tribunal banned broadcasting, publishing, and spreading any "hate speech" by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, in all types of mass and social media.
The tribunal also ordered the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to remove all posts regarding her inflammatory remarks from all social media platforms and mass media.