'Journalists accountable to society'

Former adviser to the caretaker government Dr Akbar Ali Khan speaks at the Journalist Monajatuddin Memorial Award giving ceremony at Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium in the city yesterday. On his left are Dr Atiur Rahman and Nasima Aktar Eti, wife of Monajatuddin, and on his right are Shyamal Dutta and Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul. PHOTO: STAR

They said people can know the daily events instantly through radio and television, and as a result they are less interested in reading the same events again in newspapers.

The prize giving ceremony was organised by Charon Sangbadik Monajatuddin Smriti Sangsad at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium on the occasion of the 11th death anniversary of journalist Monajatuddin.

At the function, Amin-al-Rashid, Jhalakathi correspondent of Prothom Alo, was awarded Monajatuddin Smrity Award 2005 for his investigative reports.

Akbar Ali Khan, former adviser to the caretaker government, said the journalists should write their reports correctly and objectively as they are accountable to society.

Speaking as the chief guest, he said, "Reporters should write for distressed people, and for this they will have to mix with poor people."

He said Monajatuddin was an icon of investigative journalism as he used to visit remote areas and portrayed the real pictures of their life.

The speakers said the daily newspapers will lose their readers drastically if investigative reports and their follow-ups are not published regularly.

They said Monajatuddin became popular due to his investigative reports about the sufferings of distressed humanity.

Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul, executive editor of daily Sangbad, said the practice of writing and displaying investigative reports is absent both in electronic and print media in the country.

"It is very frustrating that our reporters are less interested in writing investigative reports," he added.

Shyamal Dutta, editor of daily Bhorer Kagoj, said the print media is facing a big challenge from electronic media which is airing daily events instantly.

Economist Dr Atiur Rahman, president of the Smriti Sangsad, said Monajatuddin had no institutional training in journalism, yet he set up a unique example of objective journalism.

Moderated by Dinesh Das, the function was also attended by Columnist Mohiuddin Ahmed, Munajat's wife Nasima Aktar Eti and reporters of different electronic and print media.