Reading Time: 3 minutes
A Sweden–based investigative Journalism Website Netra reported that Bangladesh LGRD Minister and Ruling Party Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has an expensive watch worth $ 34,000/-. Netra was shut down, raising concerns regarding freedom of expression and speech, reports Tabassum, exclusively for Different Truths.
“Two things form the bedrock of any open society – freedom of expression and rule of law. If you don’t have those things, you don‘t have a free country.” ~ Salman Rushdie
Recently Sweden based investigative Journalism Website Netra reported that Bangladesh LGRD Minister and Ruling Party Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has an expensive watch. The portal provided screen shot of the watch. It costs $34,000 (28 lakh and 86 thousand taka). It is Rolex Day Date President model. The news portal alleged that he had taken the watch as bribe in exchange for a contract. Netra showed different photos of Quader wearing seven watches priced between Tk 900,000 and Tk 2.8 million apiece. On December 29, 2019, access to the Sweden-based investigative journalism website Netra News was blocked within Bangladesh.
Bangladesh authorities are blocking access to online news sites in violation of the right to free speech and access to information, according to Human Rights Watch observation. The government has also adopted advanced methods to block or conduct surveillance on internet traffic and regulate online news sites without an enough legal framework to protect rights to privacy, expression, and access to information. Brad Adams, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch said, “These restrictions disregard the basic principles of free expression and suggest that the government has plenty to hide.”
Brad Adams, Asia Director, Human Rights Watch said, “These restrictions disregard the basic principles of free expression and suggest that the government has plenty to hide.”
In December 2019, the government announced that the Home Ministry was reviewing all Bangladeshi online news sites and that in the future all news sites will require government approval and registration. According to Information Minister Hasan Mahmud, 3,595 news sites had applied for registration. that was ordered with a June 30, 2019 deadline, and that “steps would be taken” against those that failed to apply.
The registration requirement has been in place since the publication of the 2014 National Broadcast policy and was reiterated in the 2017 National Online Mass Media policy. These policies require online media outlets to register with an independent Broadcast Commission, which was to include civil society members, among them a “freedom of expression” specialist. However, this commission was never been formed. The Home Ministry is reviewing applications instead.
The government has enormous power to shut down any local websites and News portal. And they can block access to the international websites as well.
On 9th January 2020 Quader clarified to the journalists that the watches and expensive dresses are gifts from Awami League activists. He added that in the previous night one Awami league activist brought a suit from Singapore for him.
On 9th January 2020 Quader clarified to the journalists that the watches and expensive dresses are gifts from Awami League activists. He added that in the previous night one Awami league activist brought a suit from Singapore for him. People love him and he just can’t deny the gifts which are gifted to him out of love. He even said that he will resign if honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh asks him to do. Mr. Quader vehemently denied the charges of bribe for the contract as suggested by Netra.
We want to believe Quader. It reminded me of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when critics attacked Modi accusing him of wearing Rs.100,000 suit, when he went to White House and met the then President Obama in 2015. Then it was revealed that the suit was decorated with pinstripes spelling out his name. He also stated that it was a gift. Later, he auctioned it along with hundreds of gifts he has received, vowing to use the money to clean the river Ganges. Quader can learn from that example.
But the real concern here is why Netra was shut down? Netra’s information is valid, and Quader did not deny of having Rolex watch estimated $34,000.
But the real concern here is why Netra was shut down? Netra’s information is valid, and Quader did not deny of having Rolex watch estimated $34,000. We don’t see any reason to shut down Netra. It has raised concern for freedom of expression and speech status, internationally. And, certainly it is not going to upgrade the image of Bangladesh.
Sources
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/bangladesh-blocks-news-website-accusing-minister-corruption-200102172616456.html
https://bdnews24.com/politics/2020/01/09/luxury-watches-are-gifts-from-awami-league-activists-obaidul-quader-says
Photo sourced by the author
