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BNP PP MEET

Media flayed for 'anti-govt' stand

sTAFF CoRREsPoNDENT
The ruling BNP castigated the media at its parliamentary party meeting for what it said was an anti-coalition stand, a swipe that sparked mixed reactions among policymakers, meeting sources said yesterday.
"Newspapers are running guesswork to spike sales and writing against the government instead of highlighting its achievements," a source quoted one of the lawmakers as telling Wednesday's Sangsad
Bhaban meeting, a third since the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) was voted into office with three allies in 2001.
The latest bout of mediabashing came in reminiscent of BNP lawmakers' remarks at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on the information ministry on October 27 last year, which demanded framing of laws to control the media as it they believe took a stand against the government. Lawmaker Rustom Ali Farazi at Wednesday's meeting suggested restoring media confidence for more coverage on the coalition's development activities.
A group of lawmakers chimed in and accused the media of confining itself to writing against ministers, lawmakers and other party leaders.
Taking the floor, BNP Secretary General and LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said it would not be wise of the BNP to depend on the media.
"The alliance gained two-thirds majority in the last general election despite media's stand against us. The media failed to resist our victory," a senior BNP leader quoted Bhuiyan, known as mediafriendly, as saying.
Bhuiyan accused the media of misleading people and asked the lawmakers to hold rallies and processions in their constituencies to tamp down 'misconceptions' about the government.
"What will the common people do if you (lawmakers) become
disappointed ... attend parliament sessions and hold public meetings in your areas to highlight our success," he said in his efforts to boost the apparently flagging morale of party leaders.
BNP Chairperson and its parliamentary party chief Khaleda Zia told her deputies to prepare before they join TV debates with opposition lawmakers.
"You should peak carefully not to dent the image of the government," she is learnt to have said.
Her younger brother Syed Iskandar MP made a proposal of seeking permission from the BNP secretary general before any lawmaker joins debates on television.
BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General and eldest son of the prime minister Tarique Rahman took a swipe at newspapers during a ceremony of laying foundations of Bogra Press Club on Tuesday.
The anti-media remarks created mixed reactions among policymakers present at Wednesday's meeting and many described the wholesale blame as unwise.