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Morningsun Online Desk //

In order to perpetuate the masnad of power, the Hasina government targeted various media outside the country apart from the country. If the news of criticism or opposing views were published, threats and intimidation would come down on these media. A tag was attached to it.

The popular Time Television of the Bangladeshi community in the distant United States was also a victim of Hasina’s government. Time Television was eventually blacklisted despite various scaremongering campaigns. Access was barred to any function of the then head of government.

It is known that former Chief Justice SK Sinha was interviewed by Time Television during his stay in the United States. Soon after the matter came to the notice of the government, various misinformation started against Time Television and its CEO Abu Taher. Various inducements and intimidation were given to prevent this interview from being publicized in any way.

Before the UN General Assembly in 2019, then Permanent Representative and later Foreign Secretary Masoud bin Momen invited Time Television CEO Abu Taher to his office. At one stage of the discussion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina informed the government’s decision to ban Time Television from any event. When asked to know the reason for this immediately, he expressed his incompetence and said that an idea was born about Time Television as anti-government. In addition to this, the former permanent representative of the former foreign minister. Abdul Momen publicly with this television. He told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Mohammad Yunus has a relationship. Abu Taher came out that day protesting the government’s decision against a television channel and its CEO based on mere speculation without any evidence. At that time, the then Press Councilor Nure Elahi Mina was also present there.

When Abu Taher, head of Time Television was contacted about this, he said that Time Television started its journey in 2014. Since then various processes have tried to suppress its voice. It was accompanied by threats. Apart from this, Time Television broadcasted the news of the then Health Minister Nasim’s son’s huge property. Which was one of the reasons for the government eyesore.

He said that since 2019, Time Television has been banned from entering any venue of Sheikh Hasina. After that, various people forbade me to go to the country. In between, 6 state senators from New York took me with them to Bangladesh. But there was a call from DGFI to talk to me. Due to insecurity about these things, I did not visit Bangladesh again later.

He said, after the change of government, we have also written to the outgoing foreign secretary Masood bin Momen asking if the government ban on us is still in force.

Sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that in the letter given to the Foreign Secretary on August 30, it is said that for your kind information, I would like to inform you that during the visit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New York and the United States as the head of the government of Bangladesh, the popular channel Time Television and as a journalist will not allow me to attend any of her meetings from 2019. , was banned from events and press conferences. At that time you were the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations and it was you who called me and informed me about that decision at the office of the Bangladesh Mission to the United Nations, where you work. Why this ban? When asked about this, you said that an idea has been created against me as an anti-government! At that time (while talking to you) Bangladesh Mission Press Counselor Noor Elahi Meena was present there. I asked how democratic and logical it is to prohibit a journalist and a media from gathering information about the head of government based on mere assumptions or ideas without evidence. You said, it is the government’s decision. Given the change in the governance of Bangladesh, whether the ban is still valid or effective? We need to know this. Hope you clear the matter.

Sources say the letter was sent on Friday night New York local time (Saturday morning Bangladesh time). The secretary sent a reply within a few hours, that is, on Saturday night Bangladesh time. He did his last office as secretary on Sunday.

In a message sent to Time TV CEO Abu Taher on Saturday, the outgoing foreign secretary wrote, ‘Dear Taher Bhai I hope you are well. I confirm that that restriction is no longer there. You are welcome to gather news freely.’