DHAKA, April 3, 2023 (BSS) - The news carried on online version of a Bengali 
newspaper 'Prothom Alo' undermining the independence was totally 'purposely', 
said Bangabandhu Parishad (BP) leaders in a statement here today.

"The news, published on the reputed national daily 'Prothom Alo', was 
undermining independence intentionally and also a part of a particular agenda 
implementation," said acting President of Bangabandhu Parishad Professor Dr 
AAMS Arefin Siddique and its general secretary Prof Dr ABM Faruque in a 
statement.

"What will we do with the independence, if there's no food to fill our 
stomachs?" a labourer was quoted as saying on the March 26 online version of 
Prothom Alo. He indicated that people need independence to avail fish, meat 
and rice." -- the expression is not only insulting to independence which was 
achieved through sacrificing lives of three millions martyrs and the honour 
of nearly two lakh women during the Liberation War of 1971, but also shows an 
instance of disrespect to those supreme souls, they said.

"The publication of such news never carries an identity of responsible 
journalism," they said, adding that even the Prothom Alo has published 
rejoinder after 17 minutes of releasing the news item and by this time the 
news item went viral. 

The BP leaders also expects objective and informative journalism which would 
be free from all sorts of yellow journalism as per the expectation made by 
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and also demanded 
exemplary punishment of these ill perpetrators.