City Desk :
Bangladesh Press Council (BPC) Day will be observed in the country todayin a befitting manner.
Bangladesh Press Council was established on February 14, 1974 through enactment of the Bangladesh Press Council Act by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to protect press freedom and improve its standard.
On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting all people affiliated to the mass media and the journalists who won the BPC award for investigative and creative reports.
They also wished all the day’s programmes a success, reports BSS.
In his message, the President said apart from ensuring the standard of the newspapers, the BPC has been working relentlessly since its inception in 1974 to prevent yellow journalism.
Noting that freedom of the press, free access to information and empowerment of the people are interrelated, he said independent and impartial role of the newspapers is very crucial to give institutional shape to democracy along with its flourishing.
Independent and free mass media can make a positive contribution to consolidating democracy as well as establishing human rights and rule of law, Hamid said.
Along with consolidating the democracy, he said, the government is implementing various initiatives and programmes, including the establishment of human rights and rule of law, to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country by 2041.
“I think the responsibility and cooperation of the mass media is very important for the smooth implementation of these programmes,” the President added. He hoped that the mass media will come forward to establish an egalitarian and just society by publishing objective news and opinions.
Referring to Bangabandhu’s initiative in enacting BPC Act in 1974, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Awami League (AL) always works for the development of the mass media whenever it forms government.
“In 1996-2001 term, we gave approval to the country’s first private satellite television, which ensured free flow of information,” she said.
Terming the AL government as a mass media-friendly one, the premier said the country’s mass media are now enjoying full freedom.
Highlighting the government’s various initiatives taken for flourishing the country’s mass media and information and information technology, Sheikh Hasina said, “The AL government has declared the mass media as an industry”.
Noting that there are a total of 3,137 newspapers, including registered dailies, weekly, fortnightly, quarterly and half yearly magazines, in the country, the Prime Minister said 45 private television channels, 14 IPTVs, 27 FM radios and 31 community radios got approval during the AL regime.
She said the government has provided financial and other assistance to insolvent, indigent, helpless and sick journalists, including those who died of Covid-19, and their families through the Journalist Welfare Trust during the coronavirus outbreak.
Ninth Wage Board has been awarded for journalists and grants are being given for modernizing the press clubs across the country while a national broadcasting act is being enacted to make the mass media strong and up-to-date, and establish discipline and accountability in the electronic media, she said.
Besides, the present government has set a unique precedent in implementing the rights of media workers by taking an initiative to enact a long-cherished law (Mass-Media Employees (conditions of service) Act) for media workers, Sheikh Hasina said.
Mentioning that the Bangladesh Press Council Padak is being awarded to newspapers and journalists since 2018 to encourage honest journalism, she hoped that that the BPC will continue its pioneering role further to protect the freedom of the mass media and improve their standard in the future.
