BNP’s movement means protest of 200 people: Hasan

The poor presence of party activists in BNP's rallies proves their ability of demonstration, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.

"BNP staged demonstrations with 200 activists out of two crore people in Dhaka city and it proves their ability of movement. We want the BNP would raise the mistakes of the government. And we want that the politics of BNP would not be limited to the issues of Tarique Rahman's punishment and Khaleda Zia's health," he said.

The minister was talking to reporters after addressing a function of distribution of cheques of Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) among journalists at the meeting room of his ministry at the secretariat on Tuesday, rerpots BSS.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) president Omar Faruque, secretary general Dip Azad and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) general secretary Aktar Hossain addressed the function as special guests with the trust managing director Subhash Chanda Badal presiding.

The minister said, "We want that they (BNP) would talk over the issues of people and raise the mistakes of the government. They called such movement many times."

Replying to a query over the recent New Market violence, the minister said BNP's local leaders fueled the incident and police have the information.

However, actions would be taken against those culprits who were involved in the incident, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Replying to another query over the circulation of the daily newspapers, the minister said the circulation of English dailies has been updated and it has been brought closer to reality. The circulation of Bangla dailies will also be updated soon, he added.

He said the ministry has taken a decision of not giving any supplement to those newspapers which didn't implement the eighth wage board award till now.

Earlier in the function, Hasan said the Welfare Trust was formed at the behest of the prime minister and the trust is now a place of hope for the journalists.

Later, the minister exchanged views with members of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Board of Directors and discussed various activists of BSS.