Information and Broadcasting Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud has said that freedom of press or media is needed as well as responsibility.
He was speaking yesterday as the chief guest at a function to distribute welfare grants of Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust and second phase assistance checks among journalists at the Press Institute auditorium in the capital this afternoon.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting gave an example about the responsibility of the media. But the truth is, as Irene Khan has expressed concern, there are 80 more UN-affiliated reporters like her. If a first-class newspaper writes about one of those 80 people and expresses’ concern to the United Nations’, is it journalism or non-journalism? ‘.
“But in our country, you don’t have to face the question for this false journalism. In Continental Europe, in the UK, you don’t just have to face the question, you have to pay regular fines, which is not the case in our country,” he said. Because if you are in charge, you will be criticized. There is no opportunity to criticize those who are not in charge. But the criticism should be objective.
Dr. Hassan said, “Journalist Welfare Trust has become a trusted place in the journalistic community today and everyone is considered for support from the trust. We have given and are giving this support to those journalists who regularly write against the government, write for no reason, are harassed in writing, even give speeches in front of the press club or anywhere else for the fall of the government.
Director of the Press Institute Zafar Wazed, President of BFUZ Omar Farooq, former President Quddus Afrad, Managing Editor of Daily Sangbad Kashem Humayun, General Secretary of Dhaka Journalists Union Akhtar Hossain and other members of the Board of Trustees spoke at the function presided over by Subhash Chand Badal, Managing Director of the Trust. At the end, the minister and guests distributed checks among the journalists.
