Airing Sheikh Hasina’s speech will be seen as support, says Hasnat Abdullah

 Hasnat Abdullah, the convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, issued a stern warning to the media on Wednesday, February 5, during a press conference held in Dhaka’s Banglamotor. 

He declared that if any media outlet broadcasts a speech by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it would be considered an act of support for her.

Hasnat didn‍‍`t hold back in his criticism, saying, 

“Sheikh Hasina and Chhatra League are no longer relevant in this country. Sheikh Hasina is the butcher of Bangladesh. If any media outlet airs her speech now, it should be understood that the media is supporting her.” 

These remarks came as part of a broader message at the press event organized to launch a new public opinion campaign called "A New Bangladesh in Your Eyes," a joint effort by the National Citizens’ Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

While responding to questions during the event, Hasnat referenced a key moment, stating, 

“The chapter of Sheikh Hasina and Chhatra League closed after August 5. If they were still relevant, they wouldn’t have needed to flee on August 5.”

His comments implied that media houses were still hesitant to address Hasina in harsher terms. 

“I still see the media reluctant to say her name directly. They keep referring to her as the former Prime Minister. But is she truly ‘former,’ or is she the ‘butcher of this motherland’ under fascism? She has killed two thousand people to stay in power. Why doesn’t the media call her the ‘fascist murderer Hasina’? If they don‍‍`t say it, it means the media is still supporting the Awami regime,” he added.

Hasnat made it clear that his movement had symbolically “closed” the chapters of Hasina and her student wing, the Chhatra League, back in August. 

He said, “We closed the chapters of Hasina and Chhatra League on August 5. After that, although there might be differences with other anti-fascist groups, one thing is clear: we will never allow Hasina and fascism to be rehabilitated in this country.”

Hasnat reiterated that any media outlet airing Hasina‍‍`s speech would be acting against the hopes and aspirations of the people. 

“Civility has been thrown away, that’s why there’s been a mass uprising. There is no civility when it comes to Hasina,” he concluded.

The press conference was also attended by key figures of the movement, including Nasiruddin Patwary, the convener of the National Citizens’ Committee; Akhtar Hossain, the committee‍‍`s member secretary; and spokesperson Samanta Sharmin.

Interestingly, the movement’s verified Facebook page posted a similar warning on the same day, which stated, 

“If any media broadcasts the speech of the killer, genocidal, fascist Hasina, that media must bear the consequences.”

This strong rhetoric comes at a time when tensions remain high, and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement continues to push its campaign against what it sees as authoritarian rule under Sheikh Hasina’s government.