Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that BNP has failed to fulfill its responsibilities as an opposition in a democratic system.
Speaking as the chief guest at the Press Council Day meeting at the Bangladesh Press Council auditorium on Topkhana Road in the capital on Monday, he said, “Everyone needs a concerted effort to take democracy forward. It is not only the responsibility of the ruling party to consolidate democracy and consolidate the democratic system, to consolidate the multidimensional social system. This is the responsibility of all political parties and those who are in opposition politics. The BNP has utterly failed to fulfill that responsibility. Since they do not believe in democracy and democratic social system, in the past they have tried to destroy the democratic institutions of the country including the Press Council.”
Bangladesh Press Council Chairman Justice Md. Nizamul Haque NasimPresided over the programme while Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md. MaqboolHossain as Special Guest and Press Council Member Daily Prabhat Editor MuzaffarHossainPaltu, The Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Daily Jugantar Editor SaifulAlam, Former President of BFUJ ManjurulAhsan. BFUJ President Omar Farooqalso spoke on the occasion. Press Council member Sebika Rani, Dr. Utpal Kumar Sarkar and others were present at the time. The Information and Broadcasting Minister said, “Today, when an initiative has been taken to form an election commission through a participatory approach, the BNP is trying to create controversy over it.
When they saw that the search committee was discussing with all the people of the society and even those who spoke on their behalf went there for discussion, then MirzaFakhrul was speaking out of frustration.”
Hasan Mahmud said, “I will request the BNP to look in the mirror and see how much they have failed as an opposition party and how much they have failed their workers without criticizing the government.
Let's unite democracy together, integrate democratic social system, integrate our multidimensional social system.”
Regarding the Press Council, the Information Minister said, “Our Prime Minister Bangabandhu daughter Sheikh Hasina thinks that in order to develop this multi-dimensional society and democratic state, we need development of media and freedom. At the same time, responsibility is required. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu has formed the Press Council to ensure that responsibility. The Press Council is a Judicial Board, whose main function is to dispose of any complaint lodged by an individual or organization or group against the Press Council. The council is also working on a journalism policy. In order to strengthen this council, the ministry has sent the draft to the cabinet department by updating the Press Council Act. If it is passed, the council will be able to provide more effective services.”
At this time, the media said in the context of the law Dr. Hasan said, “The draft law on media workers has been prepared by burning a lot of wood in consultation with the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Industries and the Ministry of Law.
It will go to the committee after it is raised in the parliament, the committee can make any change if it wants, it also has the power to send it back. What is needed for the welfare of journalists must be done.”
Secretary Maqbool Hossain said the ministry has taken steps to strengthen the Press Council for the benefit of the media. The people of the country and the media will benefit.