Govt plans to amend laws for objective journalism

He was addressing the 12th biennial council of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) as the chief guest at Jatiya Press Club (JPC) in the city.

"Freedom of the media will be guaranteed if democracy can function without any interruption," he said, adding that free press does not mean that the journalists can write whatever they like.

He said the journalist community has always been active to safeguard the country's hard-earned independence and sovereignty side by side with its culture and heritage.

"Journalists across the globe always command respect of all, because they wake up the people through their pens," he said .

Information Minister M Shamsul Islam also addressed the function as the special guest while BFUJ President Gias Kamal Chowdhury presided. JPC President Reaz Uddin Ahmed, General Secretary Shawkat Mahmud and BFUJ Secretary Geneal Ruhul Amin Gazi also spoke.

Besides, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Elahi Newaj Khan, Chittagong Metropolitan Journalists' Union President Shamsul Haque Haidari, Khulna Metropolitan Journalists' Union President Anisuzzaman, Bogra Journalists' Union President Mir Sazzad Ali Santosh, Jessore Journalists' Union President Mahidul Islam Mantu, Rajshahi Journalists' Union President Nazib Wadud, Federal Union of Press Workers Federation President Fazle Imam and Bangladesh Press Workers Federation President Matiur Rahman Talukder also spoke on the occasion.

Jamir Uddin Sircar said independence of Bangladesh was achieved through joint efforts of all, including journalists, politicians and intellectuals. After independence, he said, the then ruling party has ruined the freedom of the media by closing all but four newspapers.

He laid emphasis upon people's voting rights and elected government for national integrity and economic progress and said democracy would prevail if the people's representatives could be elected only through polls.

The information minister said the present government is tolerant and liberal about newspapers. "The nation expects more objective news flow from the media," he said.

In this respect, Shamsul Islam stressed the need for preventing yellow journalism for the sake of upholding freedom of the press and the journalist community in the country.