Deputy Minister for Education Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has said that the development of the port city of Chattogramis being hampered due to personal competition of political leaders.
He made the remarks while addressing a function as the chief guest at the Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ) on Thursday afternoon.
The function was organized at Bangabandhu Hall of the Chittagong Press Club to honor the newly elected leaders of the management committee.
CUJ President Mohammad Ali presided. Chittagong Press Club President Alhaj Ali Abbas, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Vice President Riaz Haider Chowdhury, Chittagong Press Club General Secretary Chowdhury Farid, CUJ Senior Vice President Ratan Kanti Debashish and Vice President Anindya Tito addressed the meeting.
The meeting was attended by CUJ Joint Secretary Sabur Shuvo, Finance Secretary Kashem Shah, Organizing Secretary SM Iftekharul Islam, Publicity Secretary Iftekhar Faisal, Daily Suprabhat Bangladesh Unit Head Ibrahim, Daily Purbakon Unit Head Mihraj Raihan and Daily Karnafhuli Unit Head Mujahidinuddin. Head Saidul Islam, TV unit head Masudul Haque, Daily Purbodesh unit head Jibak Barua were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said there are many limitations in Chattogram.
Political leaders try to prove their superiority by putting themselves in front. Personal competition between political leaders is sometimes so intense that development is also hampered. Journalists have to play an important role in resolving them.
He said waterlogging is happening in Chittagong every year. The work is not progressing the way it should. There are many problems and efforts are being made to solve them. But the desired goal cannot be achieved if we cannot work together in coordination.
Deputy Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said the development of collective groups has not been ensured in any country of the world through one-day elections or democracy. Development only happens when the capacity of the organizations is increased, public service can be ensured and accountability is done properly.
Journalists are working to ensure this accountability. The Deputy Minister said that the government has to think in the long run for the journalist community. It has become urgent to control the tendency to open pages and introduce journalists through social media in an uncontrolled and unregistered manner.
He said journalism as a profession in Bangladesh lags far behind the neighboring countries economically. This is because the country's media is completely dependent on advertising.
However, even in neighboring countries, electronic media is able to pay a part of the subscription fee to journalists. Nowfel said that the owners of big industrial establishments in the country are controlling the ethics, speed and everything of journalism which is unfortunate. But even in neighboring countries, more than 49 per cent ownership is not given to entrepreneurs. Without strict policies, newspapers and journalism will be restricted to the rich.
Speaking on the occasion, CUJ President Mohammad Ali said that CUJ has been by the side of journalists in Chittagong when there was economic stagnation in the country during the Corona period. Since the new committee took office, the government has provided Tk 81.20 lakh as incentive and welfare trust grants for CUJ members. Gifts worth Tk 25 lakh were also distributed among the members during the Coronation.
At the end of the ceremony, the annual general meeting of the CUJ was held from 3 pm. CUJ members were present at the meeting.