Urging journalists to devote themselves to their professional works imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War to thwart anti-state conspiracies untidily, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said a vested quarter is always hatching conspiracies capitalising on any issue both at home and abroad.
“You have to keep in mind that a vested quarter always remains in hibernation and tries to hatch conspiracies by capitalising on any issue. I would like to urge all pro-liberation forces to remain alert so that activities of anybody do not give weapons to their hands,” he said.
The minister stated this on Sunday while exchanging views with the leaders of different journalists’ organizations including Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Jatiya Press Club (JPC), Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), Broadcast Journalists Center (BJC), Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) and Bangladesh Editors Forum (BEF).
Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her (Sheikh Hasina) regime portrays the government of independence and pro-liberation forces. “You, who have come here today, all also believe in the Liberation War and independence. I would like to request all not to give any weapons to those who are always busy hatching conspiracies,” he added.
“At the same time, we will always try to ensure that no journalist is harassed in future,” said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
Expressing his satisfaction over the granting of bail to journalist Rozina Islam, the minister said the public prosecutor didn’t protest against granting of the bail which meant the prosecutor wanted her bail. “For this, I’m also expressing my satisfaction along with you. Obviously, the incident was unexpected and you expressed your opinions. Now she got the bail. And, I hope, you all will devote to your professional works,” he added.
He said there are official secrets acts in many countries across the globe. The same act which was made in 1923 is also available in India and Pakistan along with Bangladesh, he added.
Besides, he said, the same act exists in 40 commonwealth countries including Kenya, Hong Kong, Ireland, Uganda, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
In the USA, Hasan said, there has Espionage Act 1917 though there is no law in the name of official secrets act.
The minister said the act is also available in Ireland in the name of Official Secrecy Act 1963, Official Secrecy Ordinance 1977 in Hong Kong, Official Secrecy Act 1962 in Malaysia and Official Secrecy Act 1935 in Singapore.
He said media friendly Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken different steps for the welfare of journalists and ensuring free flow of information. Hundreds of journalists have already received benefit from the Journalists Welfare Trust which was formed by the Premier, he added.
He said so far about 1.20 lakh applications have been disposed through the Information Commission which was also formed by her (Sheikh Hasina). The commission also took disciplinary steps against those ministries who didn’t provide information after request, he added.
Senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, BFUJ former President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, DUJ President Quddus Affrad, BFUJ Acting Secretary General Md Abdul Majid, DUJ General Secretary Sajjad Alam Khan Tapu, BSRF President Tapan Kumar Biswas, BJC Member Secretary Shakil Ahmed and BEF Convenor Rafiqul Islam Ratan, among others, addressed the meeting.
Replying to a demand of senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury over distribution of advertisement to irregular newspapers, Hasan said work is going on to revise the ghost circulation of those newspapers.
The minister extended his thanks to the journalists leaders for supporting him on this issue.
About Journalists Welfare Trust, he said the demand for giving institutional shape to the trust must be considered.
About Mass Media Employees Act, the minister said an inter-ministerial meeting was held according to some observations of the law ministry.
He hoped that the works will be done soon and the all journalists of broadcast media including radio and television will get protection under the act.
On the other hand, Hasan said it is time to think about those media owners who don’t pay salaries and allowances to journalists after getting government facilities.
