Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the government believes in freedom of expression and does never consider media as its opponent.
“We believe in freedom of expression. Right to Information Act has been enacted so that all get information,” he said this on Tuesday while speaking as chief guest at a discussion meeting marking World Media Freedom Day.
Non-government organization Prekkhit organized the discussion meeting at Westin Hotel in the city on the occasion of the publication of a study report on mass media.
Dhaka University Professor Syed Manzurul Islam, Amader Arthonity Editor Nayeemul Islam Khan, ETV Executive Director Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul, Prekkhit chief Borhan Kabir and 71 TV Head of News Syed Ishtiaq Reza attended the function.
The information minister said the mass media faces pressures from different quarters.
The media would have to work with responsibility and decide on playing a role in the ongoing efforts to build a democratic country, he added.
Inu said the government believes in the flourishing of online media.
“Initiatives have been taken to formulate a policy for online media. This policy is not for shrinking media, but for its institutionalization,” he added.
Prof. Syed Manzurul Islam said it is not clear whether print media will exist in the country after 10 to 20 years as dependence on online media is increasing remarkably.
According to the study report presented in the function, 11 percent people depend on online media while only 5 percent on print media in the country. The lowest one percent people depend on radio.
The study report says the main attraction of television viewers is news.
