Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has urged the country’s journalists to publish informative and constructive news so that the people could get a proper picture of the country.
Speaking as the chief guest yesterday at the biannual representatives’ conference of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), she said the media should raise the government’s accountability by constructively criticise it.
“The news media do not only publish news, it also influences the people’s opinion. So every journalist should stay alert in presenting the proper information and everyone should work towards the country’s development,” said Shirin Sharmin.
The parliament speaker further urged leaders of the pro-Awami League journalists’ body to provide all technological and logistical support to their correspondents.
Also addressing the programme at National Press Club, the prime minister’s Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury urged the government to restore the Newspaper Employees (Condition of Services) Act 1974 that was introduced by the Bangabandhu government.
Speaking as a special guest, Iqbal Sobhan said the act had been scrapped by the previous BNP-led four-party government to take away the rights of media personnels.
Around 2,000 journalists from across the country joined yesterday’s council.