Hasnat slams ‘biased admin’, ‘broker media’

NCP Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah yesterday issued a stern warning to the media, police, and administration, urging them to remain accountable to the people rather than to any political party.

“If another revolution takes place, it will be against the media and the administration,” Hasnat, the 11-party alliance candidate from Cumilla-4 (Debidwar), told a rally in Laksham.

Ahead of the February 12 election, the alliance held three public rallies yesterday in Feni, Laksham, and at Cumilla Town Hall, with Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman attending as chief guest.

Criticising the media, Hasnat said, “Dear media colleagues, it is deeply unfortunate that even after July, some media figures have not stopped acting as brokers.”

He added, “I have seen reports written by agencies published directly by DBC, Ekattor, and Somoy TV. Ownership may have changed, but their character has not. We will once again bring you before the people’s court, InshaAllah.”

He accused the media of reserving all tough questions for NCP leaders, while showering praise on a particular party.

“All the world’s questions are directed at us: ‘Where does our income come from? Where do we buy our shirts? How are our political programmes organised?’ These questions are for us, not for a certain political party,” he said.

Turning to the administration, Hasnat said, “You do not need to serve any political party -- not Jamaat, BNP, or NCP. Your accountability is to the people of Bangladesh. If you steal votes, conduct ‘night-time elections,’ or usurp the people’s mandate, you will be accountable to your own children.”

Addressing the police, he warned, “Earlier, senior officials used you to secure their own positions. Do not allow yourselves to be exploited anymore. Stand for justice and fairness. The people of Bangladesh will stand by you.”

Hasnat, however, said that the media and administration are essential to a happy, prosperous, and developed Bangladesh.

“We are not your enemies. We want your accountability to be people-oriented, not party-oriented,” he added.