Abul Kalam Azad (politician, born 1939) explained
Abul Kalam Azad (born 1 March 1939)[1] is a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Jamalpur-1 constituency. He is also a former information and cultural affairs minister of Bangladesh.[2]
Career
From 2009 to 2012, Azad served as the information minister.[3]
Controversies
- CensorshipIn 2009, when Azad was inaugurated as the minister of information, he promised journalists that the government would ensure right to information and freethinking in Bangladesh and sought "constructive criticism" from editors in the print and electronic media.[4] However, in 2010, he changed his stance and ordered that the government would enact a law to curb what he term "yellow journalism". Analysts say such laws were only enacted to curb the freedom of the press and dissident voices.[5] The press secretary to the prime minister of Bangladesh, Abul Kalam Azad, said "pornography has spread like a disease in Bangladesh".[6]
- Intra-party feudIn 2015, Azad was sent a show cause order by his own party, the Bangladesh Awami League, for working against party policy and supporting a rebel candidate.
Notes and References
- Web site: Constituency 138_11th_En. 31 August 2020. Bangladesh Parliament . https://web.archive.org/web/20190728092814/http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/mps/members-of-parliament/current-mp-s/list-of-11th-parliament-members-english?layout=edit&id=3698 . 28 July 2019.
- News: Abul Kalam Azad. 19 February 2016. Dhaka Tribune. 2 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160302033849/http://election.dhakatribune.com/members/view/478. dead.
- News: Notice for influence the administration. 19 February 2016. BD24Live. 28 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305044036/http://www.bd24live.com/article/11833/index.html. 5 March 2016. dead.
- News: Info minister pledges free media . . 14 January 2009 . 20 February 2016 . Asia Media Archives . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160312053341/http://asiamediaarchive.lmu.edu/webtools2.environment.ucla.edu/article-southasiaeea8.html?parentid=103371 . 12 March 2016 .
- News: Bangladesh to enact law to curb 'yellow journalism' . . . 1 July 2010 . 20 February 2016.
- News: Bangladesh Seeks Law to Criminalize Pornography . International Business Times . 15 December 2016 . 2 January 2012 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220172143/http://www.ibtimes.com/bangladesh-seeks-law-criminalize-pornography-389844 . 20 December 2016.
