Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has sought cooperation from mass media to further advance the country in assistance with the countrymen by rectifying mistakes.
“We want to take the county further ahead. We want to reach the country to dream destination through rectifying whatever mistakes. So, we need the cooperation of the mass media,” he said.
The minister also said that the media personnel must expose the government’s mistakes, but, “My appeal to you (mass media people) is to present the achievements carried out by the government before the nation in a proper and just way”.
Hasan made the call while addressing a view exchange meeting between Awami League leaders and editors of different media outlets, journalists leaders and senior journalists at Dhaka Club here last night.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader addressed the meeting as the chief guest.
Hasan said the mass media is the mirror of a society and the media can help the society think properly. Mass media can steer the society in the right direction, he added.
“We want that you (mass media people) will focus on our mistakes. But you should also present the story of huge development that has taken place in every sector across the country. Many world leaders including the United Nations’ secretary general, the World Bank president and vice president have praised the developments of Bangladesh amid COVID-19 and world crisis due to the war. But, those news often would not get proper treatment,” he said.
He said any government in the world cannot work cent percent flawlessly as some flaws always exist in works. “We have also mistakes. But, the real picture of a society is not reflected if the mistakes are shown as a big issue and the achievements are presented as tiny,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said the country has reached into a new height under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Currently, Bangladesh has turned into a middle income country from the least developed one. The country is now a food-surplus country while it left behind India in per capita income even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.
Hasan said the mass media is the fourth pillar of a state and foundation of a multidimensional, democratic and justice based social system are not deeply rooted without the help of mass media.
He said Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the true emblem of democracy, the great Liberation War and the spirit of Bengalee in the country. There is no alternative to her (Sheikh Hasina) to protect the democracy and the spirit of the Liberation War and the culture of the Bangalee, said Hasan.
He said a vast revolution has taken place in the mass media industry under the supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The number of newspapers is now about 1250 across the country while 38 television channels are on air, he added.
He said the premier has formed a welfare trust for the journalists.
Awami League Presidium Members Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzak, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Ramesh Chandra Sen and Shahjahan Khan, Advisory Council Member Mozaffar Hossain, Organising Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Mirza Azam, SM Kamal Hossain and Shakhawat Hossain Shafiq, Treasurer HN Ashiqur Rahman Chowdhury, Information and Research Secretary Dr Selim Mahmud, Office Secretary Barrister Biplob Barua and deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam Amin, among others, were present.
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad, Jatiya Press Club president Farida Yesmin, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalist (BFUJ) president Omar Faruque, former president Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, secretary general Dip Azad, journalist Subhash Singh Roy, Dhaka Union of Journalists president Sohel Haider Chowdhury, general secretary Akther Hossain, Dhaka Reporters Unity president Nazrul Islam Mithu, general secretary Nurul Islam Habib, Broadcast Journalist Centre president Rezawanul Haque Raza and BSRF president Tapan Biswas, among others, took part.
Besides, Press Council chairman Justice Nizamul Haque, prime minister’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim, the daily Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the daily Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman, the Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, the daily Ittefaq editor Tasmima Hossain, the daily Bangladesh Pratidin editor Noeem Nizam, the daily Kalbela advisory editor Abed Khan, editor Santosh Sharma, the daily Ajker Pathrika editor Golam Rahman, Ekattor TV chief editor Mozammel Babu, the daily Jugantor editor Saiful Alam, the daily Amader Natun Somoy editor Naimul Islam Khan, the daily New Age editor Nurul Kabir, the Daily Sun editor Anamul Haque Chowdhury, the daily Kaler Kantha editor Shahed Muhammad Ali, the daily Bhorer Kagoj editor Shaymol Datta, the daily Manabjamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Channel-I director Shykh Seraj, Global TV chief executive Syed Ishtiaq Reza, DBC News TV chief executive Md Manjurul Islam, Dipto TV chief executive Fuad Ahmed Chowdhury, Ekushey TV chief executive Pijush Bandhopadhya, Bangla Vision chief editor Dr Abdul Hai Siddique, Nexus TV chief executive Mohammad Sanaullah, the daily Sangbad executive editor Shahriar Karim, the daily Somokal acting editor Mozammel Hossain, Globe Janakantha Group chief executive Zinat Jerin Altaf, poet Dr Tariq Sujat, writer Anisul Haque, Journalist Welfare Trust director general Subhash Chanda Badal, the daily Bangladesh Post editor Sharif Shahabuddin, the daily Asian Age editor Dr Jesmin Chowdhury, Bangladesh Today editor Md Jobair Alam, Pratidin Bangladesh editor Mustafiz Shafi, the daily Desh Rupantar acting editor Mostafa Mamun, the daily Noya Diganta editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Sangbad Sarabela editor Abdul Mazid, Bangladesh Somachar editor Dr Khan Asaduzzaman, Amader Arthaniti editor Nasima Khan Manti, executive editor Masuda Bhatti, the Daily Industry editor Dr Anaet Karim, BBC representatives Walilur Rahman Miraj and Kadir Kallol, bdnews24.com chief editor Towfiq Imroz Khalidi, banglanews24.com editor Jewel Mazhar, jagonews24.com editor KM Ziaul Haque, Bangla Tribune editor Julfikar Rassel, sarabangla.net editor Badrul Alam Khan and Dhaka Prokash chief editor Mostafa Kamal, among others, were also present in the function.
