CHANDPUR, March 1, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today said the government is mulling to put the media on a solid foundation with the cooperation of journalist community.

"Media is now an industry. Without free press and development of media, democracy does not become meaningful. Thus, the government is ready to give all-out support to media," he said.

The state minister was addressing the installation ceremony of Chandpur Press Club's executive council-2024 on the club premises this afternoon, said a press release.

Social Welfare Minister Dr Dipu Moni attended the ceremony as the chief guest with Chandpur Press Club president Shahadat Hossain Shanto in the chair.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) former president and Editor-in-Chief of TV Today Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Chandpur Zilla Parishad chairman Osman Gani Patwary, additional superintendent of police of Chandpur Sudipto Roy, additional deputy commissioner Bashir Ahmed, Dhaka Post editor Mohiuddin Sarkar and Chandpur municipality mayor Zillur Rahman Jewel also spoke.

Renowned microbiologist Dr Senjuti Saha, chief engineer of Education Engineering Department Delwar Hossain Majumder and National Film Award winning lyricist Kabir Bakul were given reception on the occasion.

Arafat said: "With mutual cooperation between the media and the government, we can make our efforts to ensure free press and give the media industry a firm footing."
 
"We can also do things like how the media can hold governments or authorities to accountable and even make criticism based on accurate information," he said.

The state minister said there is a demand from professional journalists to bring discipline in journalism. In any profession, some work as amateurs and it needs to bring some discipline to this end, he added.
 
Arafat said state institutions ensure this discipline and professionalism. Whatever the government will do in media sector, it will be done in consultation with stakeholders, he said.

The state minister said media has commercial and economic aspects as well as social responsibility. If the media cannot be made profitable from commercial aspect, it will face crisis of existence, he said.
 
"Therefore, if we want to make any media dependent on government advertisements or supplements, then it will be difficult for it to survive in the long run," he added.

In this case the newspaper should try to be more innovative to reach the reader and to be successful, he said.

The government, Arafat said, wants to combat rumors and disinformation with the cooperation of journalists.

Free press is essential to make democracy meaningful, but disinformation and rumors can harm towards practicing democratic norms and values as well as media and professional journalism, he added.