NCP slams media outlets over birthday tributes to jailed ex-AL minister Asaduzzaman Noor

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has strongly condemned several media outlets, including Maasranga Television, for publishing birthday greetings for former Minister of Cultural Affairs Asaduzzaman Noor, who is currently in jail in connection with July killings and corruption cases.

In a statement on Sunday, the party expressed anger over reports published by some media outlets describing Noor as a “cultural activist” or “cultural personality” while wishing him on his birthday on October 31.

The NCP said Noor was in jail over killing students and members of the public and unprecedented corruption, and described the media coverage as irresponsible, unethical and an attempt to rehabilitate fascism.

“Culture is not merely the practice of art; it is also one of the major tools for creating authoritarian and fascist narratives,” the statement said.

The party said Noor was not merely an actor but had long been one of the cultural pillars and driving forces of the fascist system.

Presenting him positively in the media under a veneer of humanity amounted to a betrayal of the blood of the martyrs, a mockery of the feelings of thousands of families affected by repression, and part of an attempt to conceal and normalise the horrific crimes of fascism, the party said.

The NCP called on the media outlets concerned to immediately refrain from attempts to downplay the crimes of those it described as collaborators in crimes against humanity, political criminals and collaborators of fascism.

It also said the media had an ethical responsibility to play an effective role against fascism during the process of building a democratic Bangladesh.

The party called on the Ministry of Information to immediately form a media commission.

The statement was sent by Sadia Farzana Dina, Office Secretary of the NCP.

Asaduzzaman Noor was an actor as well as being involved in politics with the Awami League. He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) five times from Nilphamari 2 constituency. He also held the Cultural Affairs Minister post from 2014 to 2019. Following the Awami League’s ouster on 5 August 2024, Asaduzzaman was arrested on 15 September and since then he has been in jail over allegations of criminal offences.