February 18, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 16, 1423

DHAKA, Feb 17: Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia has expressed disappointment over a media campaign against Bangladesh, and especially for portraying her government in bad light.

“We have noticed with deep concern that a campaign has been going on, particularly in the foreign media, undermining the position of Bangladesh,” Khaleda Zia said while inaugurating a weeklong conference of Commonwealth journalists’ here on Monday.

Some 70 journalists from 23 Commonwealth countries are in the city to take part in the conference.

Rejecting accusations that her government is holding power “with the help of Islamic groups that are changing Bangladesh’s secular character”, the prime minister said that her party — Bangladesh Nationalist Party — had won a two-third majority in the general elections of 2001.

“We decided to ensure the representation of Jamaat-e-Islami to honour a commitment, made before the polls”, she added.

She also rejected reports claiming that Hindus and Christians were fleeing Bangladesh to India. She also denied rumours that her country is host to extremists from Bangladesh and elsewhere.