DHAKA, Mar 5, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today urged the media personnel to present the successes of the government along with mistakes, if there is any.
 
 
“There may be some mistakes along with success while running the state as no government in the world can do its job cent percent perfectly… So, not only the mistakes, the successes also have to be highlighted,” he said.
 
 
The minister said this while exchanging views with editors and chief news editors of country’s electronic media at an auditorium of Tathya Bhaban in the city.
 
 
Hasan said the opposition party does not admit that country is marching ahead amid COVID-19 pandemic. Even after crossing the Padma Bridge, they say that ‘no development has taken place in the country’, he added.
 
 
He said those statements are being aired exclusively by all televisions. Everyone’s statements could be broadcast, but the real incident must also be aired so that the people could reach a right conclusion, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
 
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker and editors and chief news editors of private TV channels took part in the meeting.
 
The minister said though media have to comply with owners’ opinions, news is published at the decision of news heads or editors. They decide which news will be aired or not, how much will be aired and which bytes will be on air and the control is in their hands, he added.
 
He said the journey of the country’s private television was started by Bangabandhu’s daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The journeys of ETV, ATN Bangla and Channel-i had been launched after Awami League took the office in 1996, he added.
 
So far, 36 private TV channels are on air while some channels will be on air soon, he said.
 
He said an exponential growth has taken place in all sectors including private TV channels, radios, newspapers and online news portals in the last 14 years and talented persons get the opportunity of works. There are now 36 TV channels, about 1,250 newspapers and hundreds of online news portals in the country, he continued.
 

Hasan said mass media creates mind of people and presents the scenario of society and the world as well. For this, how the news is presented in media is important, he added.

At the same time, he said, the responsibility of television is to expose the undiscovered aspects of the local culture and society and bringing out what the society does not look at, through reporting so that the society and the government can focus on it. The role of TV channels is pivotal in creating the mind of people, building the nation and running the state, he added.

He said the country’s economy is vibrant under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina amid global recession, COVID-19 situation and the ongoing war. The size of GDP has also increased as it is now about 500 billion dollars while the size was 76 or 80 billion dollars in 2009, said Hasan.

He said Bangladesh left behind India in per capita income which now stands at 2,884 dollars. Besides, Bangladesh left behind Pakistan in all indexes including social, economy, health and human development many days ago, the ruling party leader said.

The development is being praised by the world's newspapers and mass media which are not seen in country’s media, he said.

He said, “I'm trying with my utmost devotion and ability to ensure the security of the mass media after the premier gave me the responsibility of the ministry. The cable operators are maintaining the serial of the Bangladeshi TV channels as per their on-air date. No one, not even the television owners, thought that we could stop advertising our products in foreign media and their ads on our televisions. I informed it to our Prime Minister. Even, I informed the Information and Broadcasting Minister of India that your country also has this law and we are going to implement it. And we did it.”

Hasan said Bangladesh Television is airing programmes in allover India through DTH while Bangladesh Betar can also be heard there now.

Replying to a query over polls issue, the minister said BNP gave such statements before the 2018 polls. But later they took part in the elections through forming a grand alliance, he added.

He said the elections will be held in a free, fair and transparent manner under the Election Commission. “And we want that every political party including BNP will take part in the polls and BNP will check their popularity. There will be foreign observers in the polls. So, BNP has no need to be afraid of. I hope that they will take part in the next polls after overcoming their election fear,” said Hasan.

Replying to another query over forming wage board for the private TV channels, the minister said the wage board is a law which was passed in the parliament and it was formed only for the employees of newspapers. It is needed to ensure the security of those persons who are working in the broadcast media, he added.

For this, he said, draft of mass media employee act has been made and it has been sent to the parliamentary standing committee. They sought the opinions of stakeholders, he added.