LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan. File photo

DHAKA, Sept 10, 2026 (BSS)- LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan has said performing the responsibilities of objective journalism is more tough than duties of a politician.

Many of the challenges faced by journalists in discharging their duties can be overcome if they remain objective, he said while addressing 31st founding anniversary programme of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) here today.

Moyeen Khan said, “Journalism is a difficult profession. You know that the work of politicians is also difficult. But sometimes I think that carrying out the responsibilities of journalism and performing the duties of a journalist are even more difficult than the job of the politicians,” he said.

The minister said when journalists write in favour of someone that person becomes pleased but when they write against someone, the person tends to point out the journalist’s mistakes and shortcomings.

However, he said there is a simple way for journalists to deal with this difficult responsibility and that is ‘objectivity’.

“When you remain objective, that problem goes away,” he said.

Dr. Moyeen Khan described the journalists as the “fourth estate” of the state. Referring to the roles of different institutions and forces in running the state, he said that historically in Britain, the first estate was the king, the second was the clergy and the third was the Parliament.

He said journalists did not have the right to enter into the Parliament several hundred years ago. When they eventually gained that right, they came to be known as the “fourth estate”-meaning the fourth pillar of the state.

Highlighting the importance of journalists, he said, “So, I hope you yourselves realize how important you are.”

Dr. Moyeen Khan reiterated that the journalists can discharge their responsibilities more easily as long as they remain objective.

Praising the role of the DRU, he said there are many journalists and many organisations representing journalists in the country. Among them, he said, the DRU is perhaps an organisation that works, as far as possible, within the boundaries of its mandate. “For that, I express my respect for the DRU,” he said.