Dhaka, June 16 (V7N) — BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman referred to June 16, 1975, as a black day in Bangladesh’s history, condemning the deprivation of press freedom as the imprisonment of thought and conscience. He emphasized that the media in Bangladesh is still not fully free from the influence of fascist forces.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday, Tarique Rahman recalled how on June 16, 1975, the then ruling regime abolished all political parties and established the authoritarian one-party BAKSAL system. This move left only four pro-government newspapers operational and silenced the nation’s voice. Many journalists lost their jobs, pushing their families into hardship.

He stressed that the spirit of Bangladesh’s War of Independence was to achieve not only geographical freedom but also democracy — a system ensuring civil liberties, including freedom of speech and expression. Tarique pointed out that while post-independence rulers betrayed this spirit by enforcing the one-party BAKSAL system, President Ziaur Rahman later reinstated multi-party democracy by abolishing undemocratic laws and restoring press freedom.

However, Tarique Rahman accused the current ruling family, led by Sheikh Hasina, of reintroducing a one-party philosophy in a new form, suppressing journalists and media through old and new restrictive laws like the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act. He lamented that despite some improvements after the fall of the August 5 fascist government, media freedom remains constrained.

Concluding his post, Tarique Rahman said, “Freedom of the press is a fundamental element of multi-party democracy. Ensuring it is vital for the security and stability of democracy in Bangladesh.”

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