|
|
Journalist’s
Unity is Must for Freedom of Press
Rajshahi,
May 10:
Calling
upon the practice of civic journalism
giving up syndicate and corporate
journalism for the sake of welfare of the
people and the country, speakers said,
without journalist’s unity proper
freedom of press and civic journalism are
impossible.
 Media
experts, journalist leaders and
representatives of civil society called
upon it while speaking in a seminar on
‘Press, Development and Poverty
Alleviation’ held on the occasion of
World Press Freedom Day in Rajshahi today.
Development organization Swa-Unnayan, CCD
Bangladesh and Voice Dhaka jointly
organized the seminar. Executive Director
of Voice Dhaka Ahmed Swapon Mahmud read
out the keynote paper and General
Secretary of Swa-Unnayan Journalist
Mustafizur Rahman Khan Alom moderated the
seminar.
Taking
part in the open discussion on the keynote
paper speakers said, not the journalists
rather the newspaper owners enjoy the
freedom of press in Bangladesh. As a
consequence of concentrating into
practicing syndicate and corporate
journalism, the media institutions are
going far away from civic journalism. Due
to disunity and multifarious cleavage
among themselves, the journalists cannot
give up this opportunistic journalism in
their professional work, they added. For
the sake of establishing freedom of press
and journalists, speakers demanded to pass
the Information Rights Draft Act 2002 with
necessary amendment and its
implementation. Moreover, they demanded
repealing the Official Secrecy Act and
preparing specific policies for the
broadcasting media.
Among
others, President of Rajshahi Union of
Journalists (RUJ) Dr Najib Wadood and
Akbarul Hasan Millat, Former Mayor of
Rajshahi City Corporation Adv Abdul Hadi,
Editor of the Dainik Barta S M A Quader,
Editor of Weekly Gonokhabor Mahatab
Chowdhury, General Secretary of Rajshahi
City Press Club Abdu Sabur, Vice President
of Metropolitan Press Club Shafiqul Islam,
Editor of the Daily Upochar Abdullah Al
Mahmud Bablu, Editor of DNS S M Abdul
Mugni Niro, Coordinator of Barendra
Unnayan Forum Faizullah Chowdhury and
Assistant General Secretary of Rajshahi
Business Alliance Sekendar Ali took part
in the discussion. Program Coordinator of
CCD Bangladesh A H M Abdul Hai presented
welcome address in the seminar.
Speakers
in the discussion said, there developed no
practice and environment of free press in
Bangladesh and so there rise huge
constraints in developing democratic
system in the country. They stressed on
social and political tolerance and
commitment to ensure free press in the
country. Among others, Administrative
Officer of CCD Bangladesh Abu Hena Mostofa
Kamal, Program Coordinator A H M Abdul Hai,
Campaign Officer Abdul Muttalib Jewel,
Program Organizer Farzana Yeasmin Juicy,
Arafat Ali Siddiquee and Mahmudul Hoque
Mamun addressed the meeting.
The
representatives of regional and national
newspapers, news agencies, TV channels,
NGOs, business associations and civil
societies were present in the seminar
supported by UNESCO and Manusher Jonno.
|
|
