Prothom Alo’s VAS

Bangladeshi mobile companies, subscribers are paying for the connections or calls or SMS, beside these mobile operators often provide them with some value added services (VAS) which motivates a good customer-service-provider relationship.

All of us know about under-table financial transactions in the media. Journalists are often paid to do some favor, like putting counter-stories or cover-stories to protect the image of the payer. But I think no high subscription rated newspaper does this thing so openly, like Prothom Alo does.

In 2005 when Jamuna Group’s owner Nurul Islam Babul was down to the street with all of his wraths & capabilities to take on Bashundhara Group’s owner ‘Shahalam’ Mohammad Akbar Sobhan, Daily Jugantor everyday was publishing boom busting reports regarding financial & social illegitimacy of Shahalam. After months passed of that one-sided war, Prothom Alo came to the scene. I don’t remember the date, sometime in mid 2005, Prothom Alo published a full 4 pages supplement. This supplement showed how great Shahalam is, how greatly he contributed to internationalize the business arena of Bangladesh, what he did for Bangladesh, how he became a housing-pioneer by his Bashundhara Housing. This also told of contribution, brilliancy & devotion to the nation of Shahalam’s sons (by the way, all of Mr. Shahalam’s sons & Mr. Shahalam himself are my school seniors) Prothom Alo didn’t show any negligence to the properness of that report, because Prothom Alo knows how to serve its customers; legitimate or illegitimate, who cares. Mr. Shahalam just said his own word through the mouth of Prothom Alo, showed that money can buy anything, at least the cheap attitude Prothom Alo. I was thundered at that time that how a quite bigger newspaper, who claim themselves to be “progotishil” (progressive), have been sold at this stage. I guess this thunder just happened to me at that time or to other who saw that supplement. But now, nude & abhorring real face of Prothom Alo has been quite clearly visible to everyone I guess.

Now, Prothom Alo has provided some value added service to this regime, that was out of assignment, or may be included to their “propaganda” assignment, I don’t know.

I said in the previous post, that Prothom Alo krauts (as well as this regime’s masterminds) have kept their mouth shut on the matter of Mr. Payam Akhavan’s appearance. But today they have opened their mouth. Unfortunately a report that has been remarked as “news analysis” and they didn’t dare to mention name of that cheapened guy who actually wrote it. This absolutely one sided counter story, has referred Prothom Alo to be the mouthpiece of this regime. Or I can say them as to be a print-media version of CNN to that of United States. You know this regime has had many lessons from United States, so why there shouldn’t be a propaganda platform? Daily Star Prothom Alo gang has been chosen as the propaganda platform of this regime from very beginning when Fahim Munaim was selected as the Press Secretary to the Chief adviser. But now, things are running little nude I guess. I don’t know if Prothom Alo has thought of the future when Bangladesh will be back to the rule of democracy to a government absolutely out of this regime’s influence. What will happen to them?

All the time previously, Prothom Alo wanted to shape an image of them which describes them as an off-beat progressive newspaper, who cares about unheard voices & untold facts. To validate this disguise, Prothom Alo was very much often to focus many off-beat issues like tribal matters, tribal lifestyles or promoting any tribal personality. But, they have found totally sleeping or ignoring the fact, when the brutal murder of tribal leader Cholesh Richil was committed inside an Amry camp. This misdeed had several witnesses who also have been tortured by army but ultimately survived. Prothom Alo just ignored the whole issue. A guy who has read nothing but Prothom Alo last one year, will never know that this regime has killed Cholesh Richil, this regime has played with the corpse of Tayeba Mazumdar, this regime has tortured Tarique Rahman half to death, this regime has ignored the say of the plaintiff of Sheikh Hasina’s case, this regime has tortured Dhaka University teachers & students. That unlucky person will never know that pirates made an attempt to hijack a party that has the record to win the election with two third majority & that person will never know that one of those pirates, a turncoat has been beaten by sandal. That person will also miss that how public saluted our patriot armed forces. Many facts those have been frequently nudging this whole nation rather the whole world but Prothom Alo kept its “progotishil” readers just out of these. They have just kept themselves busy in doing this.

It’s really very strange that how these persons like Motiur Rahman, Mahfuz Anam remain in such position of Bangladeshi media, whereas these persons not for a single moment concern about the interest of this nation, two rudely traitor journalists. I still ain’t too sure about other kingpins of this regime to be that rudely out of any patriotism, but these two journalists never wanted prosperity of Bangladesh for sure. If they have come to any interest of this country, this is for sure that a big big personal interest of these two men worked undercover, not like the deliberation to do something good for Bangladesh.

THE UNPREVENTABLE : Payam Akhavan Says

The Unpreventable

Payam Akhavan, has been just a “na pari shohite, na pari kichhu kohite” matter for the present regime. There was confusions whether this lawyer will be okayed to get in Bangladesh or not. But the ill-mannered wrath of this regime’s masterminds was not enough to put an obstacle on Mr. Akhavan’s arrival to Bangladesh. Neither “antorjatik khyati-shomponno ainjibi” Dr. Kamal Hussain, nor any of Daily Star Prothom Alo krauts have created noise about the whole thing centralizing Payam Akhavan. Because these men know very well that they are not of that caliber to participate a debate to put Payam Akhavan into a controversial situation. By the way Prothom Alo & Daily Star is under narcolepsy syndromes from very earlier. So keeping all dirty interruption of Prothom Alo, Daily Star, Dr. Kamal Hussain or some other of this regime’s sympathizers aside, Mr. Akhavan just came, observed, spoke and simply went away. And, like the photo of flying click on the military man by the sandal-wearing passer-by, these statements of Payam Akhavan has been another mighty slap on them. This will be a hemorrhaging damage of this regime if they find no good answer to counter this matter. Observing profoundly, I found that no part of this regime has ever strongly denied complaints of human rights violation on political detainees. I don’t know why. I think, this regime is really missing a Barrister Moinul indeed. You know this chatterbox had always something to say, answers of all questions.

Payam Akhavan Says

“I had reviewed the file of the Azam J. Chowdhury case and found the prosecution case to be wholly without merit.”
“There is pressure to get her convicted. There is no basis for keeping her confined. Sheikh Hasina must be immediately released.”
“I should note that my observation that this trial falls far short of human rights standards is by no means isolated or unprecedented.”
“If there was no interference in the judicial process, Sheikh Hasina should be freed tomorrow.”
“I come with no political agenda beyond asking that her rights to a fair trial and fundamental freedoms be respected in accordance both with the constitution of Bangladesh and its obligation under the United Nations human rights covenants to which it is a signatory.”
“This is a semi-camera court in the sense that a few people were allowed to witness the trial. Even the court was smaller. Hundreds of people, who were barred by the police, have the right to witness the trial.”
“Hasina’s cousin Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was kept blindfolded without food and sleep for 48 hours, and given electric shocks forcing him to sign a statement to implicate Sheikh Hasina in the case.”

“My optimism is conditional. I have deep regard for Bangladesh’s judiciary which is the guardian of the rule of law.”

“I will spare no effort in utilizing the procedure of the United Nations human rights system, to ensure that her fundamental human rights are respected in accordance with international law.”

Payam Akhavan told all of these in a press conference held at Sonargaon Hotel just prior to his departure putting an end to the 5 days visit to Bangladesh.

 

Courtesy: Fazle Arif