DOT Desk: The Awami League leader made the remark while talking about a statement issued by the global forum of journalists Reporters Without Borders that condemned a case filed against Matiur Rahman and Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman Shams over a report that allegedly undermined the freedom of the country on Independence Day.
He said: “The Bangladesh government has not taken legal action against Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman to intimidate journalists.”
The case was filed for the sake of the country’s constitution, law, state security, journalistic principles and public order, he said, adding that foreign journalists may not know the past history of Bangladesh.
The Prothom Alo editor was once active in intimidating the state, he said. Salim Mahmud claimed that he the Prothom Alo editor wanted to rid Bangladesh of political leaders.
He mentioned that Matiur Rahman wrote in his newspaper with his byline that “the two leaders (Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina) must step down.”