Tazul for responsible journalism in national interest

Local government minister Md Tazul Islam today urged newsmen to practice “responsible journalism”, saying the media needs to be critical in examining issues but irresponsible or negative journalism could be disastrous for development, affecting national interest.

“No news, even if it is true, should be published if it affects national interests,” he told the opening of a two-day workshop for grassroots journalists at PIB auditorium in the city.

Tazul said no government policy could always be beyond any imperfection but all, including journalists, should agree that the development initiatives taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government have brought a magical change in the life of the people in grassroots, even in remote areas.

“Her (premier’s) ‘Amar Bari Amar Khamar’ project alone brought changes in the lives of one and a half crore people of the country,” the minister told the workshop titled “Sheikh Hasina’s 10 Initiatives and Development Journalism.”

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha’s (BSS) infotainment service has organised the workshop in collaboration with Amar Bari Amar Khamar (ABAK) project of Rural Development and Cooperatives Division of LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry for the national news agency’s district correspondents.

Tazul said irresponsible journalism with a motivated objective in the past created a negative attitude in people’s mind which eventually appeared disastrous for the national politics as well as development.

He said the present government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has taken many programs for development and welfare of the country.

“Among the initiatives, the Prime Minister’s 10 special initiatives are playing a vital role in alleviating poverty. The projects are called magic for development,” he added.

He said the government has been able to provide electricity connections to all parts of the country. “By utilizing the benefits of electricity, people of all parts of the country are earning money through their creative ideas and making themselves self-reliant,” he added.

Tazul informed that the per capita income of the country’s people is about US$ 2,000 and in regards to per capita income, Bangladesh is now a developing country.

“The countries with per capita income below $500 are poor and underdeveloped. We will be able to attain the middle income and developed country status before the deadline,” he added.

BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Abul Kalam Azad chaired the inauguration session of the workshop while PIB Director General Zafar Wazed and former head of Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism Department Professor Md Mofizur Rahman attended the function as special guests.

ABAK Project Director Akbar Hossain explained the outline of the project background and its progress while BSS Managing Editor Anisur Rahman delivered the welcome speech. BSS Special Correspondent Mahfuza Jesmin moderated the programme.

Speaking on occasion, Abul Kalam Azad said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken different initiatives for achieving the development goals of ‘Vision-2021’ and ‘Vision-2041’.

Among different efforts, the 10 initiatives of the Prime Minister are playing a vital role in alleviating poverty and achieving the development goals, he added. He urged journalists to project the government’s development activities before the people.

A total of 30 reporters of BSS from three divisions joined the workshop.

The 10 initiatives of the PM include ABAK, Ashrayan project, Digital Bangladesh, Education Assistance Programme, Women Empowerment, Electricity for All, Community Clinic and Mental Health, Social Safety programme, Investment Development and Environment Protection.