Abul Kalam Azad (politician, born 1939)
Abul Kalam Azad | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Baksiganj Upazila, Jamalpur-1[1] | |
| In office 2009–Present | |
| Bangladesh Minister of Information | |
| In office 6 January 2009 – 13 September 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Chowdhury Sajjadul Karim |
| Succeeded by | Hasanul Haq Inu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Baksiganj Upazila, Jamalpur District, Bangladesh |
| Political party | Bangladesh Awami League |
Abul Kalam Azad is a member of parliament of the Jatiya Sangsad and former information minister of Bangladesh.[2]
Career
Azad serves as the Member of Parliament for Jamalpur District.[2][3] From 2009 to 2013, he served as the Minister of Information.[4]
Controversy
Censorship
In 2009, when Azad was inaugurated as 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.[5] 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.[6]
Intra-party feud
In 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.[4]
References
- ^ "List of 10th Parliament Members". Bangladesh Parliament. Bangladesh Parliament. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Abul Kalam Azad". Dhaka Tribune. Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Jamalpur District Information". Amardesh Online. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Notice for influence the administration". BD24Live. BD24Live. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ "Info minister pledges free media". The Daily Star. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016 – via Asia Media Archives.
- ^ "Bangladesh to enact law to curb 'yellow journalism'". Zee News. Indo-Asian News Service. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2016.