Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday emphasised relaunching Dainik Bangla, Bangladesh Times and the popular weekly Bichitra to create employment opportunities for journalists who became jobless due to discrimination during the previous Awami autocratic regime.
"These media outlets have historical and traditional values. Therefore, they should be reorganised to create new employment opportunities," he said.
Mirza Fakhrul, also BNP Secretary General, made the remarks while addressing a discussion as the chief guest marking the "Black Day of Newspapers" at Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Auditorium of National Press Club in the capital.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) jointly organised the discussion.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon also spoke at the event as a special speaker.
With DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam in the chair, Acting General Secretary Didarul Alam Didar moderated the discussion, while BFUJ Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury presented the keynote paper.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said although many aspects of society and technology have changed over time, adequate employment opportunities for all journalists have not been created, which is extremely unfortunate.
"We have a competent information minister. I hope he will take necessary state initiatives to relaunch these traditionally important closed media houses," he said.
He also called for creating new media platforms, if necessary, with the involvement of stakeholders, to ensure the livelihoods of journalists.
Criticising the political history of the Awami League, the BNP secretary general said a review of history shows that the Awami League and democracy never go together. It did not happen during the one-party BAKSAL rule in 1975, and it was again proven during the terrible fascist misrule of the past 15 years.