Moudud for press freedom with restraints

The media in Bangladesh has been enjoying full freedom, but this freedom should be enjoyed with restraints, he said, adding, "There should not be absolute freedom."

The government, however, has no intention to curtail the freedom of journalists or media, he categorically said.

On the question of empowering the press council, the minister observed that there is a chance of misuse if it is given more power. Rather, the newspapers should become more careful about their responsibility, he added.

Moudud was speaking as chief guest at a daylong seminar on 'Reporting human trafficking, ethical consideration' organised by Bangladesh Journalists Forum Against Human Trafficking (BJFAHT) at the National Press Club in the city.

He said trafficking of women and children is a national problem which should be dealt with united efforts.

In a keynote paper at the seminar Pof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University presented a number of suggestions for journalists to follow while covering trafficking incidents.

These include not to mention the name of the victims, respect the individual rights and dignity, and not to discriminate the victims in terms of sex, race and religion.

"Journalists as well as newspapers have some social responsibility to play," said Dr Golam Rahman, chairman of mass communication and journalism department. But there are some newspapers that cannot play proper role and often publish sensational news, he added.

Editor of the daily Shamokal Golam Sarwar said there should be a common policy guidelines for the journalists while covering trafficking issues. "If there is a common code of ethics for all, then the newspapers would not face any criticism," he added.

Sarwar said there is a tendency in the government to avoid the views of the newspapers which is not good for the people.

He stressed the need for empowering press council for refraining journalists from fabricated news.

During open discussion, the participants observed that the newspapers should follow their own code of ethics while reporting on sensitive issues like women and child trafficking.

They said many women and children became doubly victimised after misleading reporting.

The journalists should be careful while publishing the details about the victims of trafficking, they opined.

Chaired by BJFAHT President Farida Yasmin, the discussion was participated by Masud Hasan Siddiqui of International Labour Organisation (ILO) Mizanur Rahman of International Organisations for Migrants (IOM), Farid Hossain of AP, Rizwanul Alam of Unicef, Advocate Kohinoor Begum of Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA), Kazi Ali Reza of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Uttam Kumar Das of UNHCR, and Afroza Parvin of Nari Unayan Shakti.