Published: 12:42 AM, 05 August 2026
Govt urges media to stop airing statements of Sheikh Hasina
The government has urged the media not to broadcast or publish statements by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying some outlets are still carrying her remarks despite her conviction.
The information and broadcasting ministry made the appeal via a statement on Tuesday just hours after the Prime Minister's Information Advisor Zahed Ur Rahman urged media outlets to abide by court orders over the broadcast of Hasina's statements.
The ministry said in the statement, "To uphold the core spirit of the July movement and maintain legal obligations, the government once again requests all forms of media -- including television, newspapers, online portals, and social media - to refrain from broadcasting or publishing any statements or speeches by the ousted premier."
The notice comes amid reports that Hasina is scheduled to deliver a virtual address on Wednesday at an event organized by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of South Asia in Delhi, marking the second anniversary of the fall of the Awami League government in the July Uprising.
In light of these reports, the information ministry issued the statement highlighting the restrictions imposed by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) against broadcasting statements from convicts and fugitives, including Hasina, who faces the death penalty for crimes against humanity.
Earlier at the Secretariat, during a regular briefing, Advisor Zahed reiterated the requirement to comply with judicial directives barring the broadcast of Hasina's statements.
He warned that failure to comply would result in "legal action".
The information ministry said, "The ICT instructed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ICT Division, and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to prevent the broadcast of fugitive Sheikh Hasina's statements, to remove and block all previously made hate speeches by the convicted accused across multiple media platforms, and to stop further dissemination or publication.
"Moreover, in the interest of overall national security, the National Cyber Security Agency has cited specific statutory provisions in appealing to the media not to broadcast any statements by the convict."
