President Zillur Rahman today called
upon all concerned to exercise vigil so
that no vested quarter could use the
mass media and journalists for unfair
gains.
"Objective journalism is one of the
safeguards for protecting country's
independence and sovereignty as well as
establishing rights of people and
society," the President said while
addressing Zahur Hossain Chowdhury
Memorial Lecture-2010, organized by the
Daily Bhorer Kagaj at a city hotel as
the chief guest.
Information and Cultural Affairs
Minister Abul Kalam Azad spoke as
special guest while internationally
renowned eminent columnist of India
Kuldip Nayar delivered the memorial
lecture titled `Role of Media in
Emerging Democracy" on the occasion.
Bhorer Kagaj Editor Shyamal Dutta made
the welcome speech while Professor
Tazin Chowdhury gave the vote of thanks
as a family member of Zahur Hossain
Chowdhury.
Zahur Hossain Chowdhury one of the
country's eminent journalists who began
his career in the renowned Indian
newspaper Statesman and then
contributed immensely to the
development of journalism as a newsman
and columnists in country's different
daily newspapers till his death in
1980.
President Zillur Rahman said national
interest would not be protected unless
mass media do not play its due role
ignoring all interest of individual or
vested quarters. "Journalists will have
to adopt such attitudes and mentality,"
he added.
Describing mass media as the fourth
estate as well as watchdog of a country
and also means of changing society, the
President said journalists need to
adopt idealism and professionalism as
like Zahur Hossain Chowdhury.
"Today it is necessary to have
journalists like Zahur Hossain
Chowdhury to establish a repression-
free and secular Bangladesh," he said.
The President said the present
government, committed to building the
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu's
`sonar Bangla, believes in full freedom
of the mass media.
The government is also committed
protecting the rights of journalists as
well as to expand the press as an
industry" he said, adding, "The present
government has taken some epoch making
steps to uphold the dignity of the
journalists."
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad
said under the dynamic leadership of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the
present government is relentlessly
working to ensure the freedom of press
and expression in the country.
"As a result, presently the mass media
of the country are enjoying full
freedom," he added. He urged the
journalists to provide true and
objective news along with identifying
the flaws of the government.
"It never brings any fruitful result,
if the mass media are used for
political interest," he noted.
In his lecture, Kuldip Nayar said
emerging democracies face many hazards,
but two are really fatal - one is the
growing fundamentalism and other is the
scenario for military intervention.
The media has to create a climate of
consensus in the county but this is not
possible unless it sheds its own
partisan and parochial stance, he said.
Mentioning that media acts as a link
between the society and the government,
Kuldip said, "A free and healthy press
is highly essential and very much
indispensable to the functioning of
democracy."
Cabinet members, editors of other
newspapers and senior journalists of
the country were also present on the
occasion.
--BSS, Dhaka
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