UNB, Dhaka :Newly appointed German Ambassador in Dhaka Dr Thomas Prinz on Thursday said Bangladesh needs to uphold freedom of press and protect bloggers as blogging has become a new form of journalism.”You know there’s new form of journalism which is coming up like blogs. It’s important for the government of Bangladesh to uphold the freedom of press and protect the new media scene, especially the bloggers,” he said.The German diplomat made the remark while interacting with reporters at the launching ceremony of Deutsche Welle’s (DW) new presence here at a city hotel.BTV Director General Abdul Mannan and Head of Distribution, Asia, DW Dorothee Ulrichs, among others, spoke on the occasion. Dr Prinz said they have seen a number of attacks on bloggers in recent times in Bangladesh and mentioned that it is important for the government to come out to protect these people.He said, Bangladesh has a very ‘lively’ media scene and hoped that the government will play the due role to have a better scenario in terms of media freedom in the coming days.The German envoy also laid emphasis on ‘check and balance’ in a democratic society and highlighted media’s role. The diplomat, however, did not want to make any comment on whether this check and balance is now prevailing in the country.It is very difficult to answer to the matter as he thinks he is still a new in Bangladesh, he added.Responding to a question on RMG sector, Dr Prinz said Bangladesh has shown a tremendous progress in terms of working conditions and it has increased minimum wage for the workers. “I think there’s room for further improvement and we should do something to increase prices,” he said.The Ambassador also said, their call for improving working conditions in factories is not only for Bangladesh. “It doesn’t make sense only to ask Bangladesh to improve; rather it has to be made by all the producing countries.”Abdul Mannan highlighted the role of media in Bangladesh society and described the media freedom enjoying the sector. “BTV has a commitment to the people of the country.”
