Media's responsible role in anti-graft drive underlined

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FE Report
Participants at a roundtable held in Dhaka Thursday made a unanimous observation that a free and responsible media had a vital role to play in the fight against corruption which is 'systemic and embedded institutionally' in Bangladesh.
However, they expressed their dissatisfaction over the state of affairs in a section of the media and suggested introduction of 'corporate' management culture replacing 'ownership' culture to help the media grow as a free and strong institution.
The roundtable on 'The Role of Media in Anti-corruption Reform Efforts' was organized by the PROGOTI, a four-year USAID project in Bangladesh, at the hotel Westin as part of its observance of 'Anti-corruption Week'.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad attended the roundtable as the chief guest while the Financial Express (FE) Editor Moazzem Hossain presented the keynote paper. USAID Mission Director Denise Rollins, PROGOTI Chief of Party Dr, David A. Pottebaum, senior journalist Abed Khan and human rights activist Dr. Hameeda Hossain, among others spoke at the roundtable. Pro-Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed moderated the discussion on the keynote paper.
Speaking on the occasion the Information Minister observed that concerted efforts of all, including the government and the media, could largely help in the task of combating corruption effectively.
He expressed the hope that the establishment of a 'Digital Bangladesh' as desired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would greatly help in combating corruption, which, he said, does not have any geographical boundary. Corruption is now a global issue, he said.
Mr. Azad said the present government is committed to bringing changes in all spheres of national life, including the media.
He said the media can make major contributions to efforts for achieving the goals of good governance, accountability and transparency at all levels of the society by the year 2011 in Bangladesh.
Ms. Rollins stressed on the development of investigative journalism which, according to her, could play a critical role in eliminating corruption in Bangladesh. She expressed the hope that the Right to Information Act, when adopted, would create an enabling environment to promote objective and responsible journalism.
Mr. Moazzem Hossain in the keynote paper said a democratic polity cannot be promoted and sustained without unrelenting efforts to fight corruption. Besides, he said, building an economy and a society that is open, transparent, and, ultimately, accountable is impossible if corruption rules the roost.
The FE editor said a free and responsible media can have a positive influence in any country on efforts, as part of winning public trust, to uproot and expose sources of corruption, Such media, he said, can perform two major roles, being a watchdog over government and educating people how corruption and other related issues affect their lives.
Dr. Hamida Hossain felt that journalists should use information judiciously and objectively. She said finding facts is a difficult job in Bangladesh where society has been prone to maintaining secrecy.
Dr. Hossain maintained that a sort of 'ownership culture' dominated the Bangladesh media, restricting its freedom in many cases. She felt that corporate management culture should replace the ownership culture for healthy growth of the media, both print and electronic.
Mr. Abed Khan expressed his deep frustration over the prevailing situation in the Bangladesh media where owners dictated terms and used the newspapers and electronic media under their control to achieve their individual agenda.