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Emergency Rule

Govt unaware of meddling with media

Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said legal actions would be taken on specific allegations of taking extra-legal steps on any matter including interfering with the functions of newspapers and satellite television channels during the state of emergency.
"The information ministry did not impose any restriction on newspapers and electronic media during the state of emergency. The home ministry also did not impose any such restriction. Legal action will be taken against persons responsible if there is any specific allegation of taking extra-legal steps on any matter," the premier told parliament irf a scripted answer to Workers Party lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon's query.
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A parliamentary body might be formed to investigate allegations of gagging the independence of newspapers and satellite TV channels if all lawmakers reach a consensus on this, Hasina said in reply to a supple-mentary question from Opposition Chief Whip Zainul AbdinFarroque.
"Formation of the parliamentary probe body, however, depends on the speaker.” she added.
Referring to the premier's reply, Menon said neither the information ministry nor the home ministry imposed any restriction during the state of emergency, but the private satellite TV channels were dictated about who would be invited to their talk shows. "Then who imposed the restrictions?" he said.
In response, the PM said anybody can go to the court to seek remedy against any anom -aly during the state of emergency.
Referring to the eviction drives during the time of the caretaker government, Awami
League lawmaker Dhirendranath Shamvu said the wholesale eviction damaged wealth worth at least Tk 50,000crore.
He asked if the government will take measures to rehabilitate those evicted people.
In response, Hasina echoed Shamvu. saying the drive could bring positive results, but it left many people unemployed. She urged the lawmakers to take initiatives for employment of these people in their constituencies. She assured the lawmakers of government assistancein this regard.
Replying to a query of AL lawmaker ABM Abul Kashem, the PM said her government is working to ensure separation of the judiciary from the executive according to the constitution.
Referring to the dissatisfaction at Bangladesh Judicial Service Association over appointment of the law secretary outside of the judicial cadres, Jatiya Party lawmaker Mujibul Haque Chunnu requested the PM to resolve it
In response, Hasina said the ongoing conflict between the
judicial and admin cadres is unwarranted and the law minister is working to resolve it.
In response to a query of AL lawmaker Shafique Rahman Chowdhury; she said her government would take steps to amend the electoral roll act to ensure inclusion of Bangladeshi citizens living abroad in the voter list.
In reply to a query of AL lawmaker Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, Hasina detailed the government's short- and long-term measures to increase gas production to meet the growing demand.
She said at present 1,850 million cubic feet (mcf) gas is being produced daily at 78 wells of 16 gas fields. Additional lOOmcf gas will bt produced daily by this December, another 155mcf to be added daily in the national gas grid by 2010,70mcf by 2011, 400mcf by 2012, lOOmcf by 2013, and 80mcf by 2014, she added.
Besides, 300-500mcf gas will be produced daily during January 2009-2017 subject to exploration of offshore gas field, Hasina said.