DHAKA, Jan 8, 2019 (BSS) – Newly appointed Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today urged the mainstream media to play their role in shaping the minds of particularly younger generations for positive and pro-active thoughts as he assumed office a day after his swearing in as a cabinet member.
“The media has a big influence . . . I urge you to shape particularly the young mind to think positively for nation building,” he said in his first interaction with newsmen at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat.
He said since media was acknowledged to be the fourth state organ beyond the executive, legislative and judiciary branches “I expect you to play your role in guiding society towards the right track (as well)”.
Hasan recalled his personal link with newsmen as ruling Awami League’s publicity secretary and expected their cooperation in discharging his duty in his new position in information ministry, which he described to be a major conduit in government relations with the media.
“The country must progress, if a better understanding between the government and the media exists,” he said at the ministry’s conference room.
Information secretary Abdul Malek, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Kamrun Nahar, BTV’s director general harunur Rashid and other senior officials were present on the occasion.
Hasan said by now he was aware of different issues and problems of the journalist community and assured them of putting in his efforts for their early solution.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s media friendly attitude yielded several private TV channels and paved ways for a vibrant social media.
But he also stressed responsible journalism saying steps would be taken if media was used to propagate misleading or false information or for someone’s character assassination.
Earlier, Hasan along with other members of the council of ministers accompanied the premier in paying tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait at Dhanmondi and homage to Liberation War martyrs at the National Memorial at Savar.