Everyone has access to media; those who want to hear Hasina's speech will do so: Rumeen Farhana

Independent MP from Brahmanbaria-2 Rumeen Farhana today (5 August) said everyone now has access to media through the devices in their hands, making it impossible to stop people from listening to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's speeches if they choose to do so.

She made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after attending a reception and discussion programme marking July Mass Uprising Day at the Sarail Upazila Parishad auditorium in Brahmanbaria. The event was organised by the Sarail Upazila administration.

Commenting on the reported restrictions on broadcasting Sheikh Hasina's speeches, Farhana said traditional television was no longer the only medium through which people accessed information.

"The media is not limited to just 26 television channels. Today, everyone has access to media through the devices in their hands. Anyone who wants to listen to Sheikh Hasina's speech will be able to do so. It is simply not possible to stop the circulation of someone's remarks in this way."

Drawing a comparison with the previous Awami League government's tenure, she added, "During Sheikh Hasina's tenure, we saw Tarique Rahman's speeches banned from being broadcast under a court order. If that was not democracy, then how can this be described as democracy?"

On Sheikh Hasina's political future, Farhana said, "She is a citizen of Bangladesh. Her family has made a long-standing contribution to the country's politics, and members of her family were killed together."

"During Bangladesh's War of Independence, the Awami League was the only political party involved. Considering all these factors, and given her age, if she does not return to Bangladesh, questions will arise about the future of her party and her political legacy. My common sense tells me that she will return," she added. 

Asked about yesterday's reported clashes between Jatiyatabadi Chatra Dal and Islami Chatra Shibir activists, Farhana said the incident reflected the country's fragile law and order situation.

"It indicates the deteriorating state of law and order. It also suggests that the political parties have little effective control over their student organisations and that, in the end, we are once again returning to the politics of the past."

The programme was boycotted by the local BNP after the upazila administration invited Farhana as the chief guest.

Responding to the boycott, she said, "The BNP has to accept the fact that the people elected me as an MP. They have to accept this hard truth."

Families of those killed and injured during the July Uprising were honoured at the programme.