The Daily Star received a huge response to Wednesday's commentary headlined "Ashraf's great revelation". Here are some of those comments.
Jabed Iqbal
It is quite depressing to see the moral disintegration of our respected minister, son of one of our country's founding leaders and once a highly respected person himself, through such unsubstantiated comments which are puzzling at best.
Moniruzzaman Rony
Strong article. The politicians always try to pin the blame on the media in the hope of covering up their misdeeds. Our PM needs to read it to learn the truth.
Zashim
Some ministers blame the media to hide their personal incompetence and make the PM happy by saying that they are seriously concerned about her security. Our ministers, as you rightly pointed out, sir, should understand that if the PM cannot secure her own position, how can she make her people and the country secure? The government should not delay in removing those irresponsible ministers, otherwise the government's acceptability would sink.
Imon
Fantastic commentary! The reason people are annoyed at the government is that the government is annoying them. Media does sway public opinion. But only truth can sway it so much. Apparently, Ashraf badly wanted to join the league of ministers who clearly lack common sense.
Dr Islam
Mr Ashraf, we love our PM, we elected her. If you have any clear evidence about any particular media person trying to assassinate our PM, please expose him. You must correct your failure. There is no alternative to that. The general masses cannot bear suffering daily for an indefinite period. Instead of trying to address the issue properly, baselessly blaming the messenger will not bring about anything positive. Please do not think the nation is full of fools.
Dr A Chowdhury, Virginia
Please continue telling the truth. AL needs to grow up!
Dr Reza Khan
The think tank of Awami League must stop the unruly ministers and other leaders from making irresponsible comments on national, international or political issues. It must also stop its unruly student and labour wings from taking law into their own hands if it wants people to remember its good deeds and be re-elected for the second time. Otherwise it may face the 2001 situation.
Imrul Hassan
It shows that Awami League will stop at nothing to take its political power and agendas forward. Here they are implicating the media of conspiring to kill Hasina. How ridiculous is that? The question should be: what is the motive and plan behind this repulsive and odious strategy and libel?
Shamer Ahmed Chowdhury
Ashraf's statement is too cheap and ridiculous. His intentions are clear -- to flatter his big-boss, divert the attention to cover up AL government's failures, and admonish the media for projecting the bitter truth. If he discovers any plot by media to assassinate the PM, he should come forward with concrete evidence, not give such stupid statements.
Sadrul Ahsan
Our leaders should take lessons from what is happening in the Arab world. When the masses are fed up, regimes as old as 30-40 years crumble. Just look at Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. You cannot fool all the people, all the time.
Romel Ahmed
Do not make yourself silly. People voted for you after finding no alternative. You do not need to give sermons on which media are good and on which are not. People can judge that easily. It is the media that shows you the way towards correction.
Abdullah Zunaed 'Tito'
We all should know that the media is not for those 300 seats in parliament. Media is there for the 16 crore Bangladeshis and the same applies around the earth.
Md SI Bhuiyan
If the government is sure about the "ground", please take action as per law, as you are the government with absolute power and not an ordinary-middleclass or lower-middleclass person like us who are always under tension about coming back home safely every day, every night.
W Zaman Manik
Excellent rebuttal to the unsubstantiated allegations against the media!
M Saiful Hosyn
I appreciate this editorial from one of the country's eminent journalist. Please do stand up for Bangladesh whenever needed.
Elihan UK
The commentary is to the point. We all know the media is doing a wonderful job by pinpointing the loopholes in the administration when it remains ever scared of censorship by the government.
Robin
Ashraf has tried to cover up the AL government's failure in all areas. He needs to wake up from hallucinations. People who voted AL to power are watching. They want results and not excuses.
Tomal
An excellent and informative news analysis. It simply reflects the key problems of the traditional political culture in Bangladesh.
Source : The Daily Star
