Information Minister and joint general secretary of the Awami League Dr Hasan Mahmud said, “Journalists are the conscience of the country, the nation and the society. Because they depict the real picture of society through writing. Through their writing society, state and government receive guidance. So soon, the media activist will be on the Law Cabinet. Under this, all media personnel, including electronic media, will be brought under legal protection. ”
This was stated by the chief guest at the inauguration of the bi-annual general meeting of the Dhaka Journalists Union at the National Press Club auditorium on Thursday February 27.
Mentioning that the problems were in the media, the law has been resolved. Haasan said media workers are not workers in any way. So after another meeting on this issue, I am hopeful that the media can take the law to the cabinet.
BFEJ President Molla Jalal and Secretary General Shaban Mahmood were the special guests at the biennial general meeting of the DUZ. Sohail Haider Chowdhury, General Secretary of the organization, welcomed the function, chaired by DUJ President Abu Jafar Surya.
The information minister said, “ The ninth wedgeboard ‘has been announced in the face of adverse conditions.
“Other times, announcing a wageboard was not such a challenge. But announcing the ninth wedgeboard was a major challenge. Because there was a case in the high court and the Secretary of the Ministry of Information was summoned in the case along with the rule.
“We have declared the ninth wageboard during the vacancy time by vacating the legal impediment,” he said. Journalists can give word-of-mouth language to the deaf and empower the powerless with their writing. ‘
The information minister said, “The present government, especially the Prime Minister of the government, is a journalist-friendly leader. Under the leadership of his government, there has been unprecedented development of the media in the country in the last 11 years. 11 years ago, the number of magazines in the country was around 500. At present, the number is up to 1200. Three years ago, there were 10 electronic media in the country. Currently there are 34 electronic media broadcasts. ‘
Dr. Hasan said there were a handful of ‘online’ magazines before. There are now more than 35,000 ‘online’ magazine applications submitted for registration.
“In some countries of Europe, including the United States, where the number of media is declining, we have increased,” he said.
As a result, the scope and scope of the press has now increased. And this is possible only because of government policy.
Referring to the journalists, the information minister said, ‘I think no newspaper will survive if journalists are not working. And by depriving journalists, the prosperity of the newspaper will survive if journalists are not working. And by depriving journalists, the prosperity of the newspaper cannot come.’
“The wageboard should be observed and implemented for the sake of the prosperity of the newspaper,” he said. It is in no way justifiable to violate the case.
Referring to the demand for inclusion of wageboards to electronic media, the information minister said, ‘Wazeboards were created for print media. And based on the law passed in Parliament, a wageboard is formed. It is necessary to re-enact the electronic media. But through the media activism we are doing, all media persons, including television, can be brought under legal protection.’
Dr. Hassan said, ‘I want to give you the good news that the media workers were made workers during the BNP-Jamaat era, which has been abolished in the media working law. Meanwhile, a meeting of the secretary committee has been held. We can take it to the cabinet after another meeting. At the same time, I hope that the broadcasting law will come to the Ministry of Information very soon. Then we can take that to the cabinet.’
Regarding job security of the media workers, the information minister said that if anyone has to be trimmed, he too must comply with the law. Suddenly one piece of paper cannot be handed over in the evening. The state does not even approve it. Where a man has been working for years, suddenly giving him a piece of paper, this is by no means lawful, nor legal.’
He said, ‘I would request the owners, please do not trim anyone at any time. It is not possible to put them in a cramped state.’
Dhaka Bureau Chief, February 29,2020