DHAKA, Feb 14, 2022 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr
Hasan Mahmud today said BNP has failed in discharging its
responsibility as an opposition party in democratic process.

  "Concrete efforts of all are needed to move ahead the democracy.
It's not only the government's responsibility to consolidate the
democracy, democratic system and the system of multidimensional
society. It is the reasonability of all political parties and those
who do opposition politics. BNP has failed extremely to discharge the
responsibility," he said.

   The minister added: "They (BNP) don't believe in democracy and
democratic social system. For this, they (BNP) tried to destroy
different democratic organizations including the Press Council.

  Hasan stated these while addressing a discussion organised by
Bangladesh Press Council (BPC) marking the Press Council Day at its
auditorium in city's Topkhana Road.

  Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain addressed
the discussion as special guests with BPC Chairman Justice Md Nizamul
Haque Nasim in the chair.

  BPCs member and the daily Probhat editor Muzaffar Hossain Paltu, the
daily Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and former president of
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul,
BFUJ president Omar Faruque and the daily Jugantar editor Saiful Alam,
among others, addressed the discussion.

  BPC members Sebika Rani and Dr Utpal Kumar Sarker, among others,
were present.

   Hasan said currently BNP is trying to create controversy as
initiative has been taken to form the Election Commission through a
participatory process. BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir are giving statements losing their consciousness when they saw
that the search committee having discussions with all persons of the
society, even the persons who talked in favour of them (BNP), he
added.

  The minister urged the BNP leaders to see the mirror as how much
they are failure as an opposition party. He also urged all to come
forward to consolidate the democracy and the democratic social system
and the multidimensional social system.

   About the BPC, the minister said Bangabandhu's daughter Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina thinks that flourishing of mass media and its
freedom are needed for the flourishing of multidimensional society and
the democratic state as well. Personal responsibility has also needed
to this end, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

  He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had
formed the Press Council to ensure the responsibility. Press Council
is a judicial board and the main work of the organisation is to settle
allegations if any person or organisation or group lodges any
complaint against any news, he added.

  Besides, he said, the BPC is also working on the policy of
journalists. The draft of the BPC act has been sent to the Cabinet
division to make the council stronger.

   He said the draft of the mass media employee act has been made and
it will send to the committee after placing in the parliament. The
committee can change anything of the drafted act, he added.

  Makbul said the ministry has taken steps to strengthen the press
council for the welfare of the mass media.