DHAKA, Oct 29, 2020 (BSS)- Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said the role of media, journalists and all concerned who were involved with the media would be written in golden letters in the history of Bangladesh for shaping the minds of people for the struggle of independence and movements of freedom as well.
“Bangabandhu’s daughter and Prime Minister and the government think that proper development of the media is crucial in shaping the thought of the new generation. It’s (media) criticism also plays a role in the government works,” he said.
For this, the Awami League government cherishes the culture of appreciating criticism and rewarding critics, the information minister said while addressing the inaugural function of a three-day long memorial lecture at the Diploma Engineers Institution through video conference.
Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) organized the conference marking the silver jubilee of the organization.
He said the country’s media has been expanded vastly during the last about 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Special assistance for journalists by the Prime Minister has set a unique precedent before the world, he added.
The information minister said capital investment in the media is good, but at the same time, it should be noted that the media should not be used for the benefits of the capital.
Hasan, also AL joint general secretary, said he has been working relentlessly for exploring mainstream media including newspapers, TV channels and radios after taking charges of the ministry.
The information minister said many questions crop up how far the newspapers that are brought out suddenly and also that are not published regularly are conducive to the smooth development of the media. And work is underway to make numbers of the newspapers circulation realistic and disciplined, necessary for this sector, he added.
The Information Ministry, Bangladesh Bank, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and Department of Information Communication and Technology are working together to bring order here, including the recent addition of VAT, the advertisement on social media for which the government is not getting any income tax, the information minister said.
He said the government is now able to completely stop the advertisement of Bangladeshi products through foreign channels, what has not been possible for a long time. Besides, Bangladesh Television is being aired through free dishes all over India since September last year, he added.
The information minister congratulated the DRU on its 25th anniversary.
Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha Board Chairman AAMS Arefin Siddique, senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Financial Herald editor Riaz Uddin Ahmed, Jatiya Press Club president Saiful Alam and JPC former president Showkat Mahmud, among others, addressed the inaugural function.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists former president Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul read out the memorial lecture titled ‘Crisis and Prospects of ‘Journalism in Bangladesh: Current Perspectives’.
Journalist Dr Abdul Hye Siddique, DRU president Rafiqul Islam Azad, vice president Nazrul Kabir and general secretary Riaz Chowdhury took part in the discussion.