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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that Bangladesh’s growing media during her tenure has the freedom to say whatever they wish to say, reports UNB.
“After saying everything, if someone says that he/she is not allowed to speak, what would be the answer? That’s what I’d like to know,” she said in an interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA), which aired on Tuesday.
Sheikh Hasina was responding to a question about the Digital Security Act (DSA) enacted by her government and its impact on freedom of media. She is now in Washington, on a visit to the United States.
She said that Bangladesh had only a few TV and radio stations before she came to power in 1996 and those were controlled by the government.
Hasina said once she came to power, she made an opening for the private sector to run media houses freely.
She said 32 private television channels are now operational among the approved 44 TV channels.
The Premier said people are taking part in television talk shows and they speak freely – true or false – and they criticize the government.
She alleged that there was no freedom of speech or movement during the military dictatorship in the country.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
