RU Correspondent :
‘Government doesn’t want to impose restriction on journalism by enacting law. Media should be conducted by conscience of its members’, said Information Minister Hasanaul Haq Inu at Rajshahi University recently.
“There could not be the exercise of democracy in a country without media as democratic government system and media run in the same channel”, Minister also said.
He made these remarks addressing as Chief Guest in a seminar entitled “Role of Regional Journalism in National Development: Problems and probabilities” at RU Senate Bhabon. Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) with association of RU Mass Communication And Journalism Department organised the seminar where different local daily newspaper’s editor, district reporters and campus journalists participated.
Prof Pradeep Kumar Pandy, Chairman of RU Mass Communication And Journalism Department presented the keynote paper in the seminar with RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin in the chair.
Inu in his speech termed the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led coalition government as a phase of return to the non-communal spirit which had been present in the original constitution of the country.
“We have become a model for the world on the reduction of child mortality rate and facing the environmental challenge”, he also said.
He stated four challenges for the country that include eradication of the root of extremists, poverty alleviation, facing the effects of climate change and gender discrimination.
“Except cooperation from you (the journalists), the government would not be able to face these challenges in a proper way”, He also said.
Minister also urged the media not to be neutral but to obey the constitution as well as support the party that spirited by country’s liberation. Expressing the concern on news publishing policy of the national dailies, he urged the media to give more focus on the regional journalism. RU VC Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin expressed grave concern on making the capital as the centre of all development. “By giving more focus on events based on the capital, the national dailies have failed to find out the real heroes of our country”, Prof Mizanuddin said.
He urged the media to emphasise on regional reports to make known the government about the real scenario of marginal people.
