PM warns Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today warned of actions against the country's leading English daily, The Daily Star, for what she said “patronising banned militant organisation Hizb-ut Tahrir by publishing its poster”.

"Action will be taken against those who tried to patronise Hizb-ut Tahrir by publishing its poster," she told the parliament amidst thumping of desks by lawmakers.

"Publishing a poster of a banned organisation means helping its publicity," she added.

Ruling Awami League and opposition Jatiya Party lawmakers supported the PM's observations by shouting “yes”.

Hasina, also leader of the House, was replying to a query from JP lawmaker Pir Fazlur Rahman who had wanted to know whether the premier would take any measurers against Hizb-ut Tahrir so that it cannot emerge in Bangladesh like Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East. 

Referring to The Daily Star, the PM said, "It's most unfortunate that The Daily Star has published a poster of Hizb-ut Tahrir, which was pasted in a corner of Banglamotor, giving it a huge space.

“Maybe none would have read that poster pasted in a corner of Bangla Motor. Whether [it] writes negatively or positively, I think giving such a big coverage of the poster is tantamount to patronising Hizb-ut Tahrir."

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami league, said newspapers should not publish anything that might harm the country or become harmful to the nation.

"But it's not understandable to me why [they] did this. But we are taking appropriate measures against them [DS]," she said.

Earlier on February 15, Shahjalal Kibria, a lawyer of Dhaka Judge's Court filed a case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Dhaka against The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Chief News Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque and Chief Photographer Sk Enamul Haq for publishing a photograph of Hizb-ut Tahrir poster under the headline 'Fanatics raise their ugly heads again' on February 11.

Hasina said her government banned Hizb-ut Tahrir much earlier and its leader was arrested and a case was lodged against him so that they cannot carry out any subversive activities.