BNP denounces detention of Prothom Alo reporter Shams

BNP on Wednesday strongly denounced the detention of daily Prothom Alo Staff Reporter Samsuzzaman Shams by law enforcers, saying it is a dreadful incident.

Speaking at a press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also warned that the government will only face losses without making political gains by arresting any journalist.

The BNP leader said Somoy Television aired a feature on Tuesday night that Prothom Alo reporter Samsuzzaman Shams made a report on March 26 to embarrass the government.

“But I don't understand what crime the journalist has committed... I strongly condemn the detention of Shasuzzaman Shams and demand his immediate and unconditional release,” Fakhrul said.

He questioned as to how the journalist committed a crime by presenting the facts. 

 “It’s being said the independence was denigrated by doing this (report) on March 26. If a person feels hungry on the day of independence, if he feels deprived, and if he gives that comment that what is the benefit of my country becoming independent? What crime has been committed, where is the crime here?”

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He said people can raise any question about the benefit of independence when they do not get food to eat, when they are subjected to repression, suppression, and murder. “It doesn’t mean that he is against independence.”