Info minister: Journalists are fearless warriors in pandemic

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday praised journalists as fearless warriors for working through the coronavirus pandemic. 

“The way journalists have been working with courage since the coronavirus outbreak is very praiseworthy,” he said while inaugurating a three-day exhibition at the Broadcast Journalists Centre in Dhaka. 

“I didn’t see any journalist sitting at home in fear. Some of my close journalist friends also died [of Covid-19],” the minister said. 

He noted that 37 journalists have died of coronavirus and several hundred others were infected. 

Mahmud praised the mainstream media and journalists for providing people with the right news during the pandemic and taking a stance against attempts to manipulate the crisis, particularly on social media. 

He lauded the BJC and other journalists’ organisations for standing by media persons during the pandemic. Mahmud noted that the government had extended financial assistance to journalists who had been laid off through the Journalist Welfare Trust at the order of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

The minister said the laying-off of journalists by some media houses during this crisis was “very unfortunate”. 

“We have provided one-time financial aid to journalists who had been laid off and those who were not paid in months. The assistance is still on,” the minister said, requesting the BJC provide the government with a list of journalists in need. 

He said the government would enact the Media Workers Law soon, to safeguard jobs and resolve the problems of journalists. 

Renowned artists Shahabuddin Ahmed and Gulshan Hossain joined the program online. It was presided over by BJC Trustee President Syed Ishtiaq Reza. 

The exhibition features some paintings and photographs showing the struggles and woes of journalists during the pandemic. Renowned artists Shahabuddin, Md Moniruzzaman, Gulshan Hossain, Tahmina Hafiz Lisa and Nasir Ali Mamun took part in the exhibition, along with several photographers. 

“Coronay Gonomaddhomer Lorai” will remain open from 10am to 5pm until November 25.