The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, on Thursday urged journalists not to criticise the government in a way that hampers the country’s advancement or creates any scope for the enemies to speak against the government.
‘I have no objection if journalists criticise [the government], but my ardent request to you is that your criticisms should not deter the country’s advancement and give the enemies any scope to speak. Please, keep it in mind,’ she said.
The prime minister was speaking at a function at her office before distributing donation cheques among ailing and insolvent journalists and those injured in accidents and the family members of the deceased journalists.
Mentioning that her government has introduced the eighth wage board for journalists, Hasina said the advertisement rate for those newspapers which implemented the recommendations of the eight wage board has been doubled.
In this connection, the prime minister said her government was closely monitoring those media outlets that are yet to implement the Eight Wage Board. ‘We will limit the facilities for those who will fail to implement the wage board.’
Sheikh Hasina said she does not fear or was not worried about criticisms as constructive criticisms often creates scopes for judging which was good or bad.
The prime minister, however, said her government’s support for the journalists would continue despite their criticisms.
Reminding the journalists about the ethics of journalism, she said the news that assassinates the character of someone or any institution should not be broadcast, telecast and published in the media because once one’s character is assassinated that cannot be regained through any rejoinder.
Citing the growing number of online media in the country due to the expansion of ICT, Hasina said the government was formulating the Online Media Policy which would be implemented soon, which would help check the posting of some indecent pictures which are harmful to children.
She said her government has formulated the Broadcast Policy 2014, while the Broadcast Commission Act would be enacted as early as possible under this policy as this is essential for the welfare of the journalist community.
Referring to BNP-Jamaat’s the countrywide mayhem to oust the government through killing and burning innocent people to death, the prime minister called upon the journalist community to mobilise opinion and raise voice so that such acts, militancy and terrorism cannot recur.
Highlighting her government’s various steps in different social-economic fields, Hasina said her government has taken steps to strengthen the country’s democratic system and reduce the income disparity.
Out of 177 selected for the assistance, 63 journalists and their family members received donation cheques from the prime minister. The cheques of the remaining journalists would be forwarded.
The prime minister said some 623 insolvent and ailing journalists have so far given Tk 3.80 crore since the fiscal 2011-12 following the formulation of the ‘Journalist Assistance Allowance and Donation Policy-2012’.
She said ‘Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Act-2014’ has already been enacted under which a Trustee Board has been formed to give such activity an institutional shape.
Hasina said ‘seed money’ would be provided to operate this Trust and urged the media owners, the elite of society and businessmen to donate to this Trust to help the ailing, aged journalists or children of the journalists during their needs.
She said the journalists of both Dhaka and outside of it would be able to avail of support from this Trust.
Mentioning that the present government has undertaken a number of epoch-making steps for the journalists through the ministry of information, the prime minister said the draft of the ‘Journalist Worker (Terms of Job) Bill-2015’ has been framed and it would be possible to make it effective soon.
To address the journalists’ accommodation problems, Hasina said initiatives have been taken to take a special project for allocation of flats among the journalists on higher purchase basis.
Source: New Age
