Mahmudur takes a jibe at protesters, press

The Acting Editor of daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman on Tuesday launched a broadside against the protesters at Shahbag, who he said ‘defied’ all law, and stated that journalist leaders were either ‘partisan or politicians’.

He also claimed that other newspapers apart from his own were ‘owned by capitalists’.

Mahmudur Rahman’s comments came as the activists of the Shahbagh movement continued to press for his arrest for ‘inciting communal unrest’ using the Bengali newspaper.

Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir on Tuesday assured the Shahbagh protesters of taking measures against Mahmudur Rahman as per law.

Mahmudur Rahman held a press briefing at his newspaper office in the evening hours after the assurance came from the minister.

“Only Amar Desh is the mouthpiece of the general people. All other media outlets are owned by capitalists. Journalist leaders are partisan, politicians.”

“Shahbagh protesters are devoid of any ideology. The play (Shahbagh protest) has been designed for implementing government’s agenda.”

Describing Shahbagh as a ‘state within a state’ he said, “They (Shahbagh protesters) order when to sing the national anthem and where to fly the national flag. They don’t abide by any law.”

“But they are not charged with contempt of court. Is it a separate state? If it is, who is the owner? Is it controlled from inside the country or outside? If from outside, who is that?”

“The (Shahbagh) movement is nothing but fascism. Even two days before they demanded that war criminals be hanged, but now their main demand is to get arrest Mahmudur Rahman arrested.”

Mahmudur Rahman said he was ready to be arrested, and added that ‘the cultural revolution against Indian imperialism and cultural aggression will continue.’

He posed a question to the government: “What would you do if a similar gathering demanded arrest of one of you when you were no more in power?”