PM’s press secretary accuses media of misleading government reports.
Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman today said that some newspapers and social media platforms from home and neighboring country are piecing together information to produce misleading reports and videos aimed at embarrassing the government and tarnishing its image.
Ruman came up with the observation at a press briefing at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister's Office, marking the government's seven-month tenure.
Ruman said the government believes in press freedom and urged the media to extend cooperation to the government, calling for greater patience as the administration had been in office for only seven months.
Referring to a video showing the demolition of a temple for renovation, he said the incident was being misrepresented by some journalists and others in a neighbouring country as the government demolishing the temple.
"Actually, the government is carrying out renovation and development work on various old structures," he said, adding that some media outlets in Bangladesh were similarly publishing manipulated reports and making videos to tarnish the government's image.
Ruman also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman believes in press freedom and had himself been associated with a national daily as its publisher until shortly before becoming the Prime Minister.
He recalled that the newspaper was shut down about six months before the previous government left office, resulting in many journalists, officials and employees losing their jobs.
He thanked journalists who had protested against the closure or expressed sympathy at the time.
Recalling Tarique Rahman's activities before becoming prime minister, Ruman said he had witnessed the then BNP leader studying issues concerning different parts of the country and interacting with people working in those areas.
He also referred to the country's foreign debt, saying the previous government had left the current administration with a huge debt burden.
"The child who will be born tomorrow will be born with the burden of this debt," he said, adding that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to improve people's lives.
Referring to the recent gas and electricity shortages, Ruman said the prime minister had taken measures to address the problems and had set a deadline for resolving the gas supply issue.
He said the government had also formed a monitoring cell and its officials were working on the matter.
"We can build a beautiful and prosperous Bangl adesh if we cooperate with the government. Let us all work together to rebuild our Bangladesh and extend whatever support we can to the Prime Minister from our respective positions," he said.
Prime Minister's Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin and Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly also spoke at the briefing, conducted by Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony.
Prime Minister's Speech Writer Mahfuzur Rahman, PM's Personal Physician Dr Monowarul Kadir Bitu and members of the Press Wing were present.
