DHAKA, Sept 1, 2021 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr
Hasan Mahmud today urged BNP on its founding anniversary to come back
to sound politics.

  "I'm extending my congratulations to BNP leaders on their party's
founding anniversary. Marking the day, we hope that BNP will come out
from the politics of patronising and sheltering the war criminals,
militants, terrorists and petrol bombs."

   He added: "We hope that they will return to sound politics. Then
the country and the politics as well will be benefited."

  Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, told the reporters
after inaugurating the online news portal crabnewsbd.com of Crime
Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) at the auditorium of Dhaka
Reporters Unity (DRU) in the city.

   Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) director general Zafar Wazed
addressed the function as special guest while DRU president Mursalin
Nomani, CRAB advisor Sangkar Kumar Dey, Shakhaowat Hossain Badsha and
Motahar Hossain, among others, spoke.

   CRAB general secretary Alauddin Arif conducted the inaugural
function with its president Mizan Malik in the chair.

  In the inaugural speech, the minister said the crime beat is a most
important in journalism as many crimes are tried while many others
(crimes) are hided. "I think the crime reporters are playing a pivotal
role in exposing those crimes," he added.

  Hasan said online newspaper and IP TV are now reality of the current
era. "There will be online newspaper and IP TV also. But there is no
need of unplanned news portals," he added.

   About the Digital Security Act (DSA), the minister said the act is
for digital security for all people of the country. "However, the law
should not be misused," he added.

   The government, he said, has also enacted the Right to Information
Act and Information Commission. A total of 1,19,831 applications have
be settled from 2014 to December 2020, said Hasan.