Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said Ziaur Rahman and his family were the major beneficiaries of Bangabandhu's murder. "It's true and it's reality," he said.

"If anyone of you read the Bangabandhu murder case proceedings, you will be able to know from the testimonies of the accused and witnesses who were involved in this conspiracy, particularly, how Ziaur Rahman was the principal mastermind behind this conspiracy. Following the killing of Bangabandhu, Khandker Moshtaque had chosen Ziaur Rahman to make him chief of army staff. After the Bangabandhu murder, Ziaur Rahman had turned the Indemnity Ordinance into law, allowed the killers to flee the country and rehabilitated them offering the posts of ambassador at different embassies."

The Information Minister was speaking at a discussion on the "National Mourning Day" at Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Sunday (August 14).

Jatiya Press Club organised the discussion.

With Jatiya Press Club president Farida Yasmin in the chair, the discussion was addressed by Prime Minister's former Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, former Principal Information Officer Golam Rahman, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha's Managing Director Abul Kalam Azad, senior journalist Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Dainik Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, BFUJ president Omar Faruque, DUJ president Sohel Haider Chowdhury, and general secretary Akhter Hossain, among others.

Jatiya Press Club's joint general secretary Mainul Alam delivered address of welcome while treasurer Shahed Chowdhury took part in the discussion.

The Information Minister said, "Though unfortunate, it is true that Khaleda Zia also rehabilitated Bangabandhu's killers. She even made a self-confessed killer of Bangabandhu as the Leader of Opposition in parliament.

"Jatiya Press Club made a formal proposal to the government last year to apprise the nation about the masterminds of  Bangabandhu killing by forming a commission. Different sections of the society have raised the same demand. Our party has also raised this demand. Personally, I agree with the proposal and express my solidarity. The government is working toward that direction. The Law Minister has announced that a commission will be constituted," he said.

Hasan Mahmud said it is natural that mass media would publish reports on inflation. "But, I think the news on inflation will be proper if the global situation is also mentioned in the reports. If we talk about Bangladesh only, and write nothing else about what is happening in our neighbouring country, and Europe-America, people will become confused."

"Inflation in Bangladesh until May this year was below 7%, which increased somewhat later on and stood at 7.5%. It means that the inflation in our country was less compared to many other countries of the world. We don't want to say that it is comfortable, however, we are trying to bring it down," he said.