Bangladesh's interim govt warns media against publishing statements of 'fugitive' Hasina
Dhaka (PTI): Bangladesh's interim government has warned all print, electronic and online media outlets to refrain from reporting statements issued by "convicted and fugitive" deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, citing concerns over national security and public order.
The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) in a press release issued on Monday claimed that Hasina's statements may contain directives or calls capable of inciting “violence, disorder and criminal activities” and disrupting social harmony, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
“We urge the media to act responsibly in the interest of national security,” the release said.
The agency said it was “deeply concerned” that some media organisations were broadcasting and publishing remarks attributed to "convicted" and "fugitive" Hasina.
Noting that airing or publishing statements from individuals who are both convicted and fugitive violates provisions of the Cyber Security Ordinance, the agency warned that authorities are empowered to "remove or block content that threatens national integrity, security or public order, promotes ethnic or religious hatred, or directly incites violence".
It further said that using a false identity or illegally accessing systems to spread hate speech, ethnic incitement or calls for violence is a punishable offence, and provides for penalties of up to two years of imprisonment and/or fines of up to Tk 10 lakh.
Emphasising that it respects freedom of the press and expression, the NCSA urged media houses to "avoid" carrying any "violent, instigating or criminally provocative" statements from convicted individuals and to "remain mindful of their legal obligations".
Hasina, 78, was on Monday sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for "crimes against humanity" over her government's brutal crackdown on student-led protests last year.
It also handed the death sentence to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on similar charges.
Hasina has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court.
Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has hailed the verdict, saying the ruling affirmed a fundamental principle, "no one, regardless of power, is above the law".
Commenting on the verdict, Hasina denied the charges as "biased and politically motivated" and said the judgment has been made by a "rigged tribunal" established and presided over by an "unelected government with no democratic mandate".
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Confident about Cong winning bypolls in Karnataka, guarantee schemes helping us: Siddaramaiah
Davangere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday expressed confidence that Congress candidates will win both the Bagalkot and Davanagere South assembly bypolls in the state by a huge margin, as the government's five guarantee schemes will help the party.
Asserting that Karnataka's economy is in good shape, he accused the BJP of making negative statements for political gain.
The CM is in Davanagere to campaign for Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun, after campaigning for Umesh Meti in the Bagalkot segment for the last two days.
Bypolls for the Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly constituencies will be held on April 9. The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, respectively.
"I'm confident that we will win in both constituencies by a big margin because of our government's good work. Our guarantee schemes ('Shakti', 'Gruha Lakshmi', 'Gruha Jyoti', 'Yuva Nidhi' and 'Anna Bhagya') are helping us. The BJP opposed guarantee schemes because they are programmes for the poor and they always oppose such initiatives," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said over Rs 1.31 lakh crore has been spent on the guarantee schemes so far.
Noting that there are two types of economic theory -- trickle-down economics and universal basic income -- the CM said, "We believe in universal basic income theory because Basavanna, Ambedkar, Gandhiji, among others, wanted the focus to be on eliminating the sufferings of the last man."
"Through the guarantee schemes, the government is providing benefits to the poor in society -- irrespective of their language, caste or religion -- directly to their bank accounts, without any interference from middlemen," he said, as he rejected the BJP's allegations of corruption in guarantee schemes.
Pointing out that the BJP also claims the treasury is empty because of the guarantee schemes and that the state is being pushed into a debt trap, Siddaramaiah said the state's finances were better managed compared to the central government and most of the states where the saffron party is in power.
Karnataka is number two in the country in GST collection and attracting investments. "Then how is the BJP saying that Karnataka's economic situation is not in good shape? They are making such statements for the sake of politics...Karnataka's economic situation is strong. The BJP is lying," he said.
He also claimed that prices of petrol, diesel and other essentials cost less in Karnataka compared to other neighbouring states in South India.
Karnataka's economy is strong and stable, Siddaramaiah said, as he questioned the Modi government over the falling rupee against the dollar, 'Ache din,' doubling farmers' income, and generating 2 crore jobs every year.
The CM also assured of more funds for Davanagere's development saying, "This is bypolls, not general elections. We will give more funds. We are in power and Congress will be in power for two years."
