Experts at a seminar urged the mass media to play a vital role by disseminating the right information to the common people centering the 11th parliamentary election.
They made the call on Saturday at a seminar titled ‘Media Engagement for Fair Elections’ organized by Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies (BIISS) in city’s Eskaton area with Bangladesh Political Science Association President and CGS Chairman Professor Dr M Ataur Rahman in the chair.
Advisor to former caretaker government Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman addressed the seminar as the guest of honour while New Age Editor Nurul Kabir presented a keynote paper.
Former Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain, Awami League Advisory Council Member Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayun, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Professor Dr Syed Anwar Hossain, Daily Manabzamin Editor-in-Chief Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, daily Prothom Alo Consultant Ayesha Kabir, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Vice-Chancellor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah and South Asian Monitor Executive Editor Chandan Nandy, among others, addressed the seminar while CGS Executive Director and TV Anchor Zillur Rahman moderated it.
Dr Hossain Zillur said the mass media has an important role to play for flourishing democracy though there are some limitations of the media. “We expect professionalism and accountability from journalists. The journalists have own views and choices. But, we want that they will work following the ethics of journalism and basic norms without getting bias.”
He said, “Most of the countrymen are not blind supporters of any political party. They are conscious. They want to establish a proper state mechanism with the participation of all parties. I hope that the upcoming national election will be held in a free, fair and credible manner and the mass media will play a vital role to this end.”
