SANGSAD BHABAN, June 15, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that Bangladesh Television (BTV) continues broadcasting programmes to make marginal people aware of information services.

"BTV has been broadcasting programmes regularly from different places to increase awareness about information services among the marginal people of the country," he said.

The minister said this while responding to a written question which was tabled by Member of Parliament for Narayanganj-2 Constituency Nazrul Islam Babu at the question-answer session at the Jatiya Sangsad here.

The information minister also said that by strengthening the public and private media institutions, the current government has reached the information services people's doorsteps by launching the 'Jatiya Tottho Batayan abong Union Tottho O Seba Kendro' with the aim of involving, informing, aware and motivating the people in the flow of free and participatory information.

Dr Hasan said the present government has enacted the Right to Information Act, 2009 and established Information Commission.

It also enacted the National Broadcast Policy-2014, the National Online Media Policy-2017 (Amendment 2022) and 'Press Accreditation Policy 2022', he added.

He said that due to the liberal broadcasting policy of the pro-media government, the present government has allowed 48 television channels, 14 IP TV and 367 news portals in the private sector.

In response to a supplementary question by Jatiya Party lawmaker of Dhaka-4 Syed Abu Hossain, the information minister told the Parliament that the present government is very sincere in protecting the freedom of newspapers and journalists.

The government in no way interfering in news dissemination in print media and various steps are being taken to improve the quality of this sector, he said.

Dr Hasan said the 'Year-round' training is organized by the Press Council for working journalists specifically for up-gradation of newspapers and journalists.

The minister said that the Press Information Department (PID) under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is an important institution that coordinates the promotion and publicity of the government, information related to the promotion and development activities of the government, empowerment of women, violence against women and children, child marriage and anti-dowry campaign.

Necessary arrangements have been made through PID to make features, articles, cartoons and slogans regularly in national newspapers for raising public awareness about those issues, he added.