Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud condemned the BNP leaders’ comments on militancy, saying direct and indirect support to militants is a major barrier for eliminating the extremists.
“BNP’s senior leaders, including its chief Begum Khaleda Zia, had always talked irresponsibly about militants,” he said this on Wednesday while addressing an award giving ceremony of reporters at the Sagar-Runi auditorium of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) here.
Mentioning the verdict over the horrific militant attack on the capital’s Holey Artisan Bakery, the minister said Bangladesh has showed a great success in curbing militancy compared to other countries in the world.
Hasan said, “I don’t say that we could eliminate militancy totally. But the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has got successes in curbing militancy.”
DRU organized the function titled ‘DRU Best Reporting Award 2019’ with its President Ilias Hossain in the chair.
Jatiya Press Club President Saiful Alam, jury board Chairman Shahjahan Sarder, board member Monowar Hossain and DRU General Secretary Kabir Ahmed Khan, among others, addressed the function.
Hasan said the role of the mass media is undeniable for building a multidimensional developed nation where there will be patriotism and compassion.
“Since taking the charges (of information ministry), I have been working relentlessly to ensure the highest freedom of the mass media as well as the journalists. But there should be responsibility along with the freedom of journalists,” he added.
Terming media ‘the fourth organ of a state’, the minister said media is playing a pivotal role in developing the nation as it showcasing the scenario of society.
“A vast revolution has taken place in the country’s media sector under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s worthy daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he added.
He said mass media rapidly flourished in Bangladesh during the time of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. For the first time, she gave approval to private television channels in the country, he added
Terming media the mirror of a society, he said media also runs society in the right direction and makes criticizes into the responsible persons, he added.
Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of the ruling Awami League, said the government has given around 44 licenses for private TV channels. Of those, around 35 channels are now running their programmes, he added.
“There are nearly 1500 newspapers in the country and a large number of online news portals are running,” he said.
Alongside the constructive criticism of the government, the minister said, all forms of media should play a positive role in building a developed country.
A total of 10 reporters from different media houses received the awards from the Information Minister.
The awardees are Mizanur Rahman of daily Jugantor, Md Al Masum Mollah of the Daily Star, Shahed Shafiq of Bangla Tribune, Jashim Uddin Harun of Financial Express, Ziadul Islam of Kaler Kantho, Tareque Mahmud of daily Protom Alo, Tapan Dash of Somokal, Shafique Shahin of NTV, Adnan Khan of Ekattor TV and Morshed Hasib Khan of Channel 24.
