PM Urges The Journalists Not To Hamper Country’s Development

‘You can criticise, but please remain careful so that your criticisms do not obstruct the country’s development and earn bad name for Bangladesh,’ she said. The prime minister was speaking at an Iftar party at the National Press Club jointly hosted by factions of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists’ and Dhaka Union of Journalists.

BFUJ secretary general Abdul Jalil conducted the programme where information minister Hasanul Huq Inu, BFUJ president Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, DUJ president Altaf Mahmud and DUJ general secretary Quddus Afrad also spoke.

Without mentioning anyone’s name, PM said she does not want to backbite on anyone as she was fasting. ‘I am fasting now, I will not go for any backbiting right now, we are hearing various backbiting almost every day. I do not know whether that person fasts or not.’

The prime minister said her government established the information commission and enacted the Right to Information Act to ensure the free flow of information as it is urgently needed for consolidating democracy and making it more meaningful.

The Prime Minister said the present government enhanced the dignity of journalists through amending the CrPC which protects the media people from arrest if any criminal case is filed against them. ‘Now it only has the provision of summon by the court.’

She requested the journalists not to misuse this privilege by writing false and cooked news items. ‘Sometimes we see such news that is totally false and fabricated. Such news hurt us a lot.’

Talking about various facilities ensured for journalists, the prime minister said her government for the first time constituted the ‘Journalists Welfare Fund’ with a seed money of Tk one crore. Later, the fund was raised to Tk 3 crore. The prime minister said her government during its previous term gave license to one private TV channel, and this time issued 32 licenses to private TV, 22 FM Radio and 32 community radio stations which has ensured the free flow of information and created huge job opportunities.

Replying to journalist leaders’ demand for plots for them through a cooperative, Hasina assured them of looking into the matter. ‘But you will have to ensure that this facility will not be just for the journalists in Dhaka. You have to introduce this for all the journalists living outside the capital.’

Referring to the lack of press freedom during the military regime after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said there was no independence of journalists after 1975. ‘Ensuring the freedom of press is not possible without democracy, and the Father of the Nation ensured that in the constitution.’

Prior to the Iftar, a munajat was offered seeking continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. Prayers were also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other victims of the August 15 massacre, martyrs of War of Liberation and heroes of the democratic movements. Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Moulana M Salauddin Ahmed conducted the munajat.

-UNB