State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed has urged the main opposition BNP to call off its planned BTV Bhaban gherao programme and ventilate its grievances, if any. through the electronic media.

This gherao is for nothing, there is no rationale behind such a programme. he told a news conference at his Sangsad Bhaban office last night.

On July 1. BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia announced at a Paltan Maidan mass rally

that her party would gherao BTV Bhaban on July 9 to protest BTVs 'partisan' role. Jamaat-e-Islaml and Jatiya Party (Z-M) had also given similar programme from separate rallies in the city on that day.

Referring to a government offer for participating in a 90 minute 'face to face with people programme on’BTV. Abu Sayeed said. "She (Begum Zia) could ac cept the offer, instead of announcing an illogical gherao programme."

1 would have found a minimum rationale behind such a programme had it been for autonomy of BTV. But. they gave the gherao programme alleging partisan role and black mailing by BTV," said the state minister.

Abu Sayeed blamed the previous BNP government for "mismanagement, irregular! ties and corrupt practices" for which, he said, overseas donors had stopped funding in various development work of the state-run media. He cited BMRE project of BTV and purchase of a

‘‘OB-Van’ (outdoor broadcast van) as examples.

He provided the newsmen with comparative statistics showing that there were 250 to 300 seconds of average visual coverage of the then president Ziaur Rahman in BTV news during his rule and 200 to 250 seconds of such coverage of Er-shad during his rule. There was an average visual coverage of Begum Zia for 90 to 150 seconds during her period while incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is allocated an average of only five to seven seconds of visual coverage." he claimed.

Replying to a question about BTV's coverage of opposition political parties at present, the state minister said, "Whenever any party — be it JSD or Communist Party — seeks coverage, we provide it."

As regards the main opposition party. Sayeed said. 'They (BNP) did not allow BTV cameramen cover their programme on numerous occasions, Rather, they damaged BTV cameras several times.

He HnlsHed aside the allegation that BTV Is partisan in

news coverage and claimed that Zia. Ershad and Begum Zia had rather pursued 'partisan practices.'

Sayeed said that during the 5-year rule of the previous BNP government, the name of Bangabandhu was never pronounced on BTV. While referring to occupation forces' of 1971. he said BTV never used to term them Pakistani during that period. "So, it's very natural that this party would not find satisfactory the role BTV Is now playing by projecting the true history of the country '"

About autonomy of BTV and Bangladesh Betar, he said, We re already one-step ahead by taking the decision to allow private Radio-TV channels in the country."