bdnews24.com, Dhaka
Fifteen political parties are being given the chance to deliver electoral speeches on state-run Bangla-desh Television and Bangladesh Betar.
“The speeches will be broadcast from Dec 17 but the draft texts have to be submitted beforehand (by Dec 15),” information secretary Jamil Osman said on Sunday.
The information ministry has sent letters to the 15 parties, Osman added.
Awami League has expressed unwillingness to submit their speech beforehand on grounds that it was a restriction on freedom and that the speeches faced the possibility of being leaked, said the secretary.
He said the time limit of Dec 15 for the submission of the speeches may be relaxed.
“This is interference in our freedom. If the draft is submitted then our opponents may get hold of it and we don’t want that,” explained Syed Ashraful Islam, the AL spokesperson, on Sunday.
“We’ve received the letter but don’t agree that a draft has to be submitted by Dec 15,” he added.
Until afternoon, ministry officials said, AL, BNP, Jatiya Party (Ershad), Jamaat-e- Islami, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Gono Forum, Krishak Sramik Janata League, Kalyan Party, Bangla-desher Samajtantrik Dal, Islami Andolon, Ccommunist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and Zaker Party have been sent letters.
The letters specified the date and time for the recording of speeches but the date for the broadcast will be released later, said a ministry official seeking anonymity.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
