Dhaka, 25 July- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the media to expose the brutality and violence that occurred during the recent student movement. In a discussion with the Editors Guild on Wednesday, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for accurate reporting in the face of misleading information circulating in foreign media.
Prime Minister Hasina called on Bangladeshi media to present the true facts, countering false narratives being spread internationally. She stressed the importance of preventing miscreants from manipulating students for violent purposes.
Referring to the widespread destruction and atrocities, Prime Minister Hasina expressed her prior apprehensions about such an attack. "They (BNP-Jamaat) did not want to let us hold elections, but we held elections. After the election, not everyone will accept it, we have made it acceptable to everyone, we have formed the government. I had a fear that such an injury would come," she stated.
She highlighted a significant conspiracy behind the violent situation, noting the involvement of Shibir Jamaat and Chhatra Dal cadres from across the country. The Prime Minister also pointed to an international angle, questioning the premature reports of casualties by foreign entities like the US State Department.
Prime Minister Hasina underscored the damage caused by the violence, which she said targeted the Awami League, freedom fighters, and pro-liberation forces. She expressed regret over the destruction of facilities built for public welfare and livelihood, urging the public to resist terrorism and militancy.
The Prime Minister explained the government's reluctant decision to deploy the army and impose a curfew. "They (students) declared that they were not involved in the ongoing sabotage activities, then we called the army," she explained, noting the government's preference to maintain a democratic environment.
The Prime Minister emphasized the media's crucial role in creating mass awareness against militancy. "If people are not aware, then what can we do or how much can we do alone," she said.
The Prime Minister's remarks come in the wake of extensive violence linked to the quota reform movement, prompting the government to deploy the army and enforce curfews. The violence resulted in the destruction of numerous police vehicles and stations, as well as attacks on key state assets like Bangladesh Television Bhavan and metro rail stations.
As the situation stabilizes, the Prime Minister's call to action aims to ensure that the media plays its part in fostering a truthful and vigilant society, safeguarding the nation's democratic progress.
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