Hundreds of billboards across the country have once again been employed to showcase the ‘government’s successes’.
Different ministries, city corporations and departments this time have been assigned to advertise – promoting the achievements of the concerned ministries during the Awami League regime since 2009 – through their own funds or sponsorship.
This time the government is using public offices as the first such initiative, involving party officials taking over city billboards, drew severe criticism.
This time, some ministries have hoisted banners portraying ‘success stories’ in front of their respective offices.
Talking to New Age, a number of senior leaders of ruling Awami League said different foreign dignitaries and institutions ‘praised the recent developments taking place in the country under the Awami League government’, but there was lack of publicity inside the country about the development.
‘This time, the government, not the Awami League, have taken the move to publicise its success through billboards,’ said a member of Awami League publicity wing.
Executive director of the Transparency International Bangladesh, Iftekharuzzaman, expressed doubt about the outcome of advertisements using billboards. ‘The government might want to win the heart of the people, but I have doubts about the outcome,’ he added.
The Planning Minister this time is coordinating the activities.
A meeting between Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Mayors of 11 city corporations on August 31 decided that each of the city corporations will publicise the development activities of the present government in various fields on their own or through sponsors.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayed Khokon at the meeting backed the move.
An official of the Dhaka north city corporation told New Age preferring anonymity that both the city corporations will keep around 3,000 billboards for highlighting various development activities of the government throughout the year, by rotation.
Rajshahi city corporation office told New Age they only used the 61 billboards owned by the corporation to highlight the government’s development activities and achievements.
‘We did not use any privately-run billboard and the city corporation and EXIM bank bore the expenditure for installing the billboards,’ public relation officers of RCC Amirul Karim Bulu told New Age.
New Age correspondent from different district reported that during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation billboards were put up by the different ministries and city corporations at different places in the cities and towns.
Large billboards were seen at both riverbanks at Paturia and Daulatdia ghat on Dhaka-Khulna Highway, highlighting the government’s success.
The Goalanda Upzila Nirbahi officer Pankaj Ghosh said they had installed those billboards complying with government instructions to project their development activities.
‘We were provided details on size and text on the billboards…we only execute the instructions,’ Pankaj said, adding, ‘we are not sure about the exact reason behind the billboards at this time.’
He, however, said the billboards were installed before the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, went to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held in the last week of September.
On the Dhaka-Khulna Highway, there were a number of places were passengers from bus or other transportations could see the billboards installed at suitable locations highlighting the development work. A number of such billboards were also seen in Mugura on the way to Khulna.
Magura district administration also installed such billboards and posters at different strategic locations in public places, highlighting the development work of the government.
‘Actually, it was part of the development fair held between September 27 and 30 and those billboards highlight the prime minister’s commitment to the development activities,’ Magura’s deputy commissioner Mahbubar Rahman told New Age.
Asked about the budget, the district administration chief said ‘we spent money to install those billboard from the budget allocated for the development fair…it was publicity of the development work of the current government when the prime minister was at the United Nations.’
In Rajshahi, the district administration showcased the achievements of the government, specially highlighting the achievements of Millennium Development Goals and in other development fields.
Awami League’s deputy publicity secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, however, said both the government and the party decided to carry out a massive publicity campaign to make people aware of the ‘government’s last seven years of success’.
‘The government has carried out massive development works in the country in the last two years. We will highlight the last two years’ success, including establishing 100 power stations, using billboards and other methods during the campaign,’ he said.
The city corporations, ministry of education, planning ministry, ministry of industries, foreign ministry, health ministry, planning ministry, science and technology ministry, communication ministry and ministry of LGRD and co-operatives, information and communication technology ministry, jute and textiles and the ministry of defence took part in exhibiting the ‘successes of the government.’
At the end of 2013, few months ahead of January 5 national elections, the ruling Awami League suddenly hijacked city billboards and resorted to a massive billboard campaign in the capital. Amid widespread criticism, the Awami League backtracked from grabbing the billboards, mostly privately-owned.
Different ministries, city corporations and departments this time have been assigned to advertise – promoting the achievements of the concerned ministries during the Awami League regime since 2009 – through their own funds or sponsorship.
This time the government is using public offices as the first such initiative, involving party officials taking over city billboards, drew severe criticism.
This time, some ministries have hoisted banners portraying ‘success stories’ in front of their respective offices.
Talking to New Age, a number of senior leaders of ruling Awami League said different foreign dignitaries and institutions ‘praised the recent developments taking place in the country under the Awami League government’, but there was lack of publicity inside the country about the development.
‘This time, the government, not the Awami League, have taken the move to publicise its success through billboards,’ said a member of Awami League publicity wing.
Executive director of the Transparency International Bangladesh, Iftekharuzzaman, expressed doubt about the outcome of advertisements using billboards. ‘The government might want to win the heart of the people, but I have doubts about the outcome,’ he added.
The Planning Minister this time is coordinating the activities.
A meeting between Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and Mayors of 11 city corporations on August 31 decided that each of the city corporations will publicise the development activities of the present government in various fields on their own or through sponsors.
Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayed Khokon at the meeting backed the move.
An official of the Dhaka north city corporation told New Age preferring anonymity that both the city corporations will keep around 3,000 billboards for highlighting various development activities of the government throughout the year, by rotation.
Rajshahi city corporation office told New Age they only used the 61 billboards owned by the corporation to highlight the government’s development activities and achievements.
‘We did not use any privately-run billboard and the city corporation and EXIM bank bore the expenditure for installing the billboards,’ public relation officers of RCC Amirul Karim Bulu told New Age.
New Age correspondent from different district reported that during the Eid-ul-Azha vacation billboards were put up by the different ministries and city corporations at different places in the cities and towns.
Large billboards were seen at both riverbanks at Paturia and Daulatdia ghat on Dhaka-Khulna Highway, highlighting the government’s success.
The Goalanda Upzila Nirbahi officer Pankaj Ghosh said they had installed those billboards complying with government instructions to project their development activities.
‘We were provided details on size and text on the billboards…we only execute the instructions,’ Pankaj said, adding, ‘we are not sure about the exact reason behind the billboards at this time.’
He, however, said the billboards were installed before the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, went to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held in the last week of September.
On the Dhaka-Khulna Highway, there were a number of places were passengers from bus or other transportations could see the billboards installed at suitable locations highlighting the development work. A number of such billboards were also seen in Mugura on the way to Khulna.
Magura district administration also installed such billboards and posters at different strategic locations in public places, highlighting the development work of the government.
‘Actually, it was part of the development fair held between September 27 and 30 and those billboards highlight the prime minister’s commitment to the development activities,’ Magura’s deputy commissioner Mahbubar Rahman told New Age.
Asked about the budget, the district administration chief said ‘we spent money to install those billboard from the budget allocated for the development fair…it was publicity of the development work of the current government when the prime minister was at the United Nations.’
In Rajshahi, the district administration showcased the achievements of the government, specially highlighting the achievements of Millennium Development Goals and in other development fields.
Awami League’s deputy publicity secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, however, said both the government and the party decided to carry out a massive publicity campaign to make people aware of the ‘government’s last seven years of success’.
‘The government has carried out massive development works in the country in the last two years. We will highlight the last two years’ success, including establishing 100 power stations, using billboards and other methods during the campaign,’ he said.
The city corporations, ministry of education, planning ministry, ministry of industries, foreign ministry, health ministry, planning ministry, science and technology ministry, communication ministry and ministry of LGRD and co-operatives, information and communication technology ministry, jute and textiles and the ministry of defence took part in exhibiting the ‘successes of the government.’
At the end of 2013, few months ahead of January 5 national elections, the ruling Awami League suddenly hijacked city billboards and resorted to a massive billboard campaign in the capital. Amid widespread criticism, the Awami League backtracked from grabbing the billboards, mostly privately-owned.
Source: New Age