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recent initiatives taken by several ministries and departments. Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed was also present at the briefing.
The adviser, who holds the rank of a state minister, said some journalists are currently in custody on specific murder charges, while what occurred in July amounted to crimes against humanity -- a systematic pattern that Sheikh Hasina had established long ago through actions such as enforced disappearances.
“Even before taking office, I had maintained that accusing the journalists of such activities [specific murders] was a mistake,” he said.
Zahed said that during the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials following World War II, those who built narratives that facilitated killings were also tried and brought to justice.
Regarding journalists facing similar charges who have not yet been arrested, he said the government would take appropriate measures.
He also said that the prime minister assured leaders of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh that the government would do as much as possible in collaboration with the judiciary regarding the cases against journalists, as it cannot unilaterally interfere in judicial processes.
Zahed also said the government has taken an initiative to introduce electric buses to reduce fuel consumption, adding that the service will initially be launched for students.
“There remains concern over the situation in the Middle East and conditions could deteriorate at any time…. However, Bangladesh currently has sufficient fuel oil reserves.
“In the future, we will have to move towards electricity, and the duties on electric buses for students will be zero.”
Regarding local government elections, he said the polls are expected to begin towards the end of this year and may take around 10 months to one year to complete.
He added that the government has no plan to abolish the upazila parishad. “Under Section 25 of the law, a Member of Parliament serves as an adviser to the upazila parishad and should therefore have an office there.”