BNP attacks govt surveillance on Bangladeshi journalists abroad

The BNP has slated the government decision to trail journalists travelling abroad.

Its Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi protested the move at a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

He said "the media and the journalists are one of the main pillars of democracy. Their freedom is now being squeezed in the country under this government."

"The government is imposing restrictions on the media. Journalists' movements‎ are being monitored. No democratic government can do this," he added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed all the foreign missions on Wednesday to monitor the activities of the Bangladeshi journalists travelling abroad and report back to Dhaka.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters on Thursday "he would look into what is written in the circular."

At the human chain organised by the Shawdhinata Forum on Friday, Rizvi said "We condemn the decision and other activities of this ruthless, murderer, one-party government."

The human chain was organised to demand the release of the BNP's Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu‎ and Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon.

Rizvi claimed the government being 'afraid' of the BNP detailed and put the BNP leaders behind bars.

‎He also said "the government won't be able to keep it's illegal activities under wraps".