SOMOY FULL NEWS

POLITICS

19:25:0, 9 December, 2023

The BNP is using its official magazine and verified social media handles to attack media outlets, spread terror and create a counter narrative to cover up involvement of its activists in street violence.

At least 28,000 incidents of communal attacks were identified by rights bodies between 2001 and 2006 during the BNP-Jamaat regime. File photo

Somoy Political Desk

Minority leaders say the magazine is offering spaces for writers who have glorified communal forces and desperately attempted to whitewash the worst bout of communal attacks perpetrated by BNP-Jamaat to woo support from foreign countries like India.

It has made foreign envoys vocal against communal forces target of its smear campaign.

Joty Rahman, for example, wrote several pieces, peddling lies to erase tales of persecution of minorities. The writer claimed the last BNP-Jamaat coalition government protected communal harmony. Between 2001 and 2006, at least 28,000 incidents of communal attacks were identified by rights bodies.

“Such glorification and attempts to erase these attacks further embolden communal elements. The writer has been frequently writing for ‘Road To Democracy’ portal where she attacked a diplomat who has been quite vocal against radical elements,” said Nirmal Rozario of the Cristian Association.

An Ahmadiyya community member said the BNP-Jamaat alliance teamed up against his community and mounted pressure on the government to declare it non-Muslim.

An Ahmadiyya delegation met US Ambassador Peter Hass and briefed him about the communal attitude of the BNP-Jamaat alliance. “We were horrified to see Jamaat-backed Twitter handles spearheading anti-Ahmadiyya campaigns hailing Haas as a true friend of Bangladesh,” he said.

Another minority leader said Haas’ activities send a chilling message to minorities, in contrast to the US’ claim to stand for religious harmony.

The very X handle has been threatening media outlets mainly for running reports against the BNP. “Your complicity will not save you,” it boldly proclaimed in a blatant disregard for press freedom.

Journalist Ajay Dasgupta said the social media handle peddled outright lies to justify BNP’s boycott of television channels.

The platform’s projection of Tarique Rahman, the fugitive acting chief of the BNP, as a responsible leader is also a cause for concern for the country’s secular polity and anti-corruption campaigners.

Read more: Persecution of minorities: BNP-Jamaat destroys Bangladesh’s secular identity

Freedom fighters have slammed the magazine for glorifying the country’s first military ruler General Ziaur Rahman, the founder of BNP, who has been accused of killing freedom fighters under the pretext of a purge in the army.

Political analysts say the portal’s attempt to defend Tarique’s reported outreach to Jamaat stands as an affront to secular forces and further diminishes the credibility of BNP.

SOURCE https://en.somoynews.tv/news/2023-12-09/bnp-leaning-media-going-all-out-to-cover-trail-of-blood