Under-fire Farhad Mazhar backtracks

Columnist Farhad Mazhar has claimed his statement justifying bomb attacks on media outlets and journalists during the opposition strike was ‘mere rhetoric.’

He accused Ekattor TV of broadcasting a ‘distorted’ and ‘partial’ version of his speech.

Farhad’s statement at a talk show on Ekushey Television on Sunday has triggered public outrage, and caused widespread criticisms on social networking sites like Facebook.

He had defended what he said in the talk show in his Facebook status on Monday.

“I naturally would never even opt for anyone pelting a media outlet with a stone, let alone hurling bombs. It was a rhetoric,” said Farhad.

“I said that for the sake of discussion so that the intellectuals, media workers comprehend that only Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were not to be blamed for the existing situation.

“We have created this situation...it's our own doing.”

The 60-hour countrywide strike from Sunday through Tuesday saw bomb explosions at different media outlets in the capital and elsewhere in the country. Four bombs were exploded before the office of Ekattor TV, injuring its senior journalist Zakaria Akond Biplob.

Explosions were also reported at the offices of private television channels Desh TV, Mohona, and newspaper Bhorer Kagoj and internet newspaper bdnews24.com.

In the talk show, Farhad called media ‘criminal’ and observed that the attacks on media outlets and journalists were justified for what they had been doing in the name of journalism. He even observed that there should have been more attacks on media.

A video clip of the talk show went viral on Facebook.

“You (media) have started criminal activities. You must understand it well. I have called many newspaper offices to call them criminals. You are responsible for the country’s current state. Many of these are owned by miscreants and corrupt.”

Referring to the explosion reported before Ekattor TV, Farhad said, “I believe fewer crude bombs have been exploded. It should have been more in numbers. Situation would have turned worse in any other country than here under the circumstances, supported by a public opinion.”

He went on to term the media ‘anti-people.’

“If anyone is to blame for the current situation, it is the media.”

Farhad had been the subject of widespread criticism after he had called the youth uprising at Shahbagh a ‘fascist movement.’

He became a spokesperson for Hifazat-e Islam that waged movement against Shahbagh protesters demanding death for war criminals.

Farhad recently called for tougher political programme from the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

In his Tuesday Facebook note, Farhad said he had been an advocate for democracy, free expression and individual freedom.