Prothom Alo, Daily Star lied to have me arrested, PM Hasina says

Prothom Alo and The Daily Star’s reports created the path for her arrest during the military-controlled caretaker government’s tenure, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said.

Her comments come after criticisms sparked by Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam’s recent admission to the fact that he ran DGFI-fed baseless reports during the caretaker government’s tenure.

Awami League chief Hasina’s supporters have filed around 100 cases against Anam over defamation and treason since he publicly admitted his mistake.

MPs and ministers have slammed Anam in Parliament while demanding a commission to identify the main perpetrators behind the undemocratic government.

During a recent party meeting Hasina criticised the two newspapers for their role during the caretaker government. She then took the matter to Parliament on Monday.

“They wrote against me for 20 years. I have never read those two newspapers since my release from jail in 2008. Not even after I became prime minister,” she said.

“The two newspapers use the words ‘fearless journalism’ on their tops. Yes, I am talking about Daily Star and Prothom Alo,” she pointed out.

Hasina said she was the first to suffer the blow of the unsubstantiated reports against her.

“A series of cases were filed against me. A dozen were filed during the BNP’s tenure then five or six more during the caretaker government’s regime. Those newspapers wrote lies to prove me corrupt. They provided false information,” she said.  

Former prime minister BNP chief Khaleda Zia was also arrested during the 2007-08 caretaker government’s tenure.

Political analysts say there was a conspiracy to banish Hasina and Khaleda from politics at the time.

Awami League leaders allege Prothom Alo and Daily Star were involved in the conspiracy.

Hasina said DGFI officials Brigadier ‘Amin’ and Brigadier ‘Bari’ supplied the information to the newspapers to create the corruption reports against her.

“What kind of tie could one have with those who tortured teachers, students, and politicians? Will Daily Star’s Mahfuz Anam and Prothom Alo’s Matiur Rahman be able to answer this question?” she asked.

“They ran the reports either as paid DGFI agents or because they were involved in conspiracy,” the prime minister continued.

“They always try to create an abnormal situation. They want this country to run unconstitutionally so that their importance increases,” she said.

“If you want to do politics, then form a party and hit the streets,” she said.

In addition to Anam and Rahman, the prime minister also pointed her finger at former Grameen Bank chief Muhammad Yunus.

Hasina said, “They don’t have faith in voting, in the people. They dreamt of grabbing power with the help of DGFI.”

“And another person is linked to this dream. He tried to form a party. He had announced that the caretaker government would be given double ‘A’ plus. And these two editors helped his effort to vamp up a party, but no one responded...they don’t have the ability to form a party,” she said.      

Nobel Laureate Yunus stayed in office after retirement age and was subsequently removed from Grameen Bank in 2011. He lost the legal battle, too.

Hasina had earlier indicated that Yunus had tried to stop the World Bank from funding the Padma Bridge.

On Monday, she said, “Their conspiracy has not ended yet. [They think] an undemocratic system can be introduced if democracy is toppled.”

“But their wish will not come true. The people are more alert now,” she added.

In reaction to foreign organisations’ concern over the cases against Anam, the prime minister said her government was not controlling the media.

“They say there is no freedom of speech. Then how they are talking this much?” she said.

“I am the biggest victim after creating opportunities for the media...we do not control the media in any way,” she added.