Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the media to fulfil their social responsibilities alongside conducting matters of business.
"Alongside considering their own profits, the mass media have a responsibility to society. Social responsibility is the most important thing, as people watch and listen to television and radio programmes for entertainment. It is essential to focus on matters of learning, which will build society and develop the people," she said.
The prime minister made the comments when directors of the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) met her at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka, reports UNB.
She asked the media to focus on the issues such as food security, food production and education.
Sheikh Hasina said the number of TV viewers is now growing, due to improvement of the socio-economic status of the country's people.
"Since people are becoming economically self-reliant and attaining the financial solvency necessary to buy televisions, it has become possible to run a significant number of television channels in the country," she said, adding that the government has so far given licences to 41 television channels, while 30 are in operation.
The prime minister further said that her government was the first to allow television channels to operate in the private sector, creating employment and promoting cultural activities.
She also urged the private sector to play a greater role in the country's development, as the government could not do everything.
""Every individual, particularly the new generation, must keep in mind that they also have the responsibility for his/her own development as well as society. We must have confidence in our own strength and capacity instead of being dependent on the government for the development of the country," Sheikh Hasina said.
ATCO Chairman Salman F Rahman, Director Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, and Senior Vice Chairmen Mozammel Babu and Nazmul Hasan Papan were part of the ATCO delegation.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the ATCO leaders discussed the Digital Security Act 2018, and expressed their support for the recently passed law.
The ATCO leaders also stressed the need for accountability in online media, particularly online newspapers and portals, he said.
Information Minister Hasanul Has Inu and State Minister for Information Tarana Hakim were also present at the meeting.