Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said that people all over the country were happy because the metro rail was launched in Dhaka, but BNP was not happy.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the donation check distribution ceremony of the Journalist Welfare Trust at the Bangladesh Press Institute auditorium in Kakrail of the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said, 'BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan held a press conference on Tuesday with false information. He has given false information about metro fares in different countries. Today, the whole country is happy but they cannot be happy. This political evil, it is an obstacle in the development and progress of the country.' I would request the journalist brothers that just as there is criticism of those in charge, those who are in the opposition also have a duty to criticize. You will see both.
"The Awami League government does not look at journalists with a one-eyed policy and the journalists who are busy in the movement to bring down the government in front of the National Press Club, are also being given grants by the government," said the information and broadcasting minister.
He said, "In 2001, 26 journalists of the Bangladesh News Agency were dismissed with a stroke of the pen during the BNP period, while not a single journalist was dismissed for dissent during the Awami League period.
The Journalist Welfare Trust created by the media-friendly Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for all journalists is providing support to all journalists regardless of party affiliation.
Under the chairmanship of Journalist Welfare Trust Managing Director Subhash Chand Badal, National Press Club President Farida Yasmeen, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Deep Azad, former President Quddus Afrad, Bhorer Paper Editor Shyamal Dutta, Daily Sangbad Managing Editor Kashem Humayun and others were present.
On this day, in the first phase of the current fiscal year 2022-23, welfare grants of Tk 2 crore 68 lakh 50 thousand were given to 304 journalists and journalist families across the country. Along with this, 684 journalists were given a one-time sum of 10,000 taka from the prime minister's corona grant.
It should be noted that the Journalist Welfare Trust established in 2014 has provided 34 crore 81 lakh 30 thousand taka as welfare and corona grants to 11 thousand 458 journalists and journalist families from 2015-16.
Information Minister Dr. Hasan then attended the Victory Day discussion and felicitation of meritorious and accomplished students organized by the Greater Noakhali Kalyan Samity at the International Mother Language Institute Auditorium as the chief guest.
In the event presided over by the President Mirza Ghalib Ahmed, the organizer of the association, Bangladesh Public Works Commission Chairman Sohrab Hossain, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed and other selected meritorious persons and members of the association, Minister Hasan Mahmud handed over mementos.