Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is not involved in instigating anyone in filing cases against The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam.  While talking to reporters at a press briefing, he said all the cases were filed by individuals at personal level and it is the court that will decide whether the cases have any merit.
Regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent remarks about Mahfuz Anam, Inu said her statement was misconstrued and she only spoke in the context of the caretaker government that took over power in 2007.
“There was no personal attack or ill motive in her speech against Mahfuz Anam.”
Her statement, Inu said, was based on how the caretaker government took over power illegally and imprisoned politicians, businessmen and others indiscriminately.
Asked whether the government is exerting influence over the media, he refuted it saying that there are 2,834 newspapers published across the country and most of them are critical of the government.
Highlighting ethical conduct by both politicians and editors, he countered saying that if editors have the right to criticise, they must also have the capacity to take criticism.
Besides, the information minister said, the government does not have any problem with neither The Daily Star nor Prothom Alo. But the fact is that, their programmes are attended by ministers regularly, Inu said adding that had there been a conflict it would not have happened.
The briefing was arranged in the wake of the recent reports released by Amnesty International, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticising the wholesale filing of cases against Mahfuz Anam.
The minister brushed aside the claims made by the Amnesty International in its report regarding freedom of press, terming it “one-sided” and partial”.
Asked about the speculation that the government is prohibiting organisations from giving advertisements to The Daily Star and vernacular daily Prothom Alo, he said such claims are unfounded as the government has no scope to even use advertisements as a weapon against them.
He insisted that every newspaper equally receives government ads, but it is up to the private companies where they want to publish their ads or not.
Over reports that the two leading dailies have not been able to cover the prime minister’s programmes, he said that it is the detective branch of police that decides who can and who cannot.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government has a plan to introduce Dhaka-Chittagong express train service for easier and quick communication between the country’s two major cities.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating and laying foundation of 51 projects of various ministries in ten districts through video conference with local representatives and officials from her Gonobhaban residence in Dhaka.
The prime minister inaugurated newly- constructed 48 projects in Kotalipara of Gopalganj, Patiya of Chittagong, Comilla, Gazipur, Brahmanbaria, Patuakhali, Sunamganj, Bhairab of Kishoreganj, Narayanganj  and Joypurhat districts. She also laid the foundation of three projects in Joypurhat through video conferencing.
Sheikh Hasina urged the party leaders at all level to work together in their areas to implement the development projects undertaken by the government. She also urged the local representatives to work in coordination with the people for smooth running of the projects.
She said the present government is working to materialise the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to build a hunger and poverty- free nation. She expressed her firm optimism that Bangladesh would be a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041 with everyone united in their efforts.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has embarked upon massive development programme and wants to develop the country to provide people with a prosperous life for which the nation was liberated.
The present government is holding on to the spirit of Bangabandhu to build a hunger and poverty-free nation. “Bangabandhu has clearly mentioned in the constitution on how to promote socio-economic development of the country and our duty is to implement the plan and take forward the country,” she said.
In this regard the prime minister said it has been a popular demand since 1954 to construct Dhaka-Chittagong double rail line. But, no government in the past has taken the initiative to fulfil the demand.
Awami League government after assuming office in 2009 undertook the project, she said adding, “the double rail line on Dhaka-Chittagong route would make way to introduce express rail between the two cities”.
 Sheikh Hasina said her government has implemented massive development programmes in every field over the last seven years. “A total of 537 bridges were constructed during the time of Awami League government in office,” she said.