Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Saturday said like Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his worthy daughter and the present Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stands beside the newspapers and the journalists.
"As Bangabandhu stood by newspaper-journalists, today his daughter also stands by the journalists irrespective of party affiliation," she said while addressing the cheque-distribution ceremony among the journalists at Chandpur district Shilpakala Academy as the chief guest.
Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Chandpur Press Club jointly organized the program, an official release said.
Noting that journalism is a noble profession, the minister urged all concerned to move forward with positive mindset.
She said: "We have seen that Begum Zia and her party (BNP) attacked on journalists while in power. Those who are agitating today have led to the destruction of the country every time they have come to power."
They (BNP men) came to power either through the back door or through pointing the gun-barrel, she added.
Those who talked about human rights today, she said where were their human rights, when people's houses were set on fire and many women were raped for the crime of voting for Awami League in 2001.
"Where was the human rights when journalist Humayun Kabir Balu was killed?" she raised the question.
Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Managing Director of Subhash Chandra Badal addressed the ceremony as a special guest.
Cheques worth Tk17 lakh were distributed among 82 journalists, the release added.