PM urges media to discard negative frame of mind

‘’Since I was entrusted with the Awami League's stewardship 37 years ago, I have never got much cooperation from the press.’’

FE Team | Published: May 18, 2018 00:15:06

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged on Thursday the media to discard a negative frame of mind in general about the government and expected journalists to portray positively whatever is done for the country's betterment, reports BSS.
"There is a misconception that the media would not sustain unless it take a negative stance against the government but we have to come out of that 'mental sickness'," she said opening the biennial council of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ).
Sheikh Hasina added: "We don't want your favour but the media must focus on the truth (and) if anything we have done for the country, it should be published properly, not in the interest of myself or our party, but in the interest of the country."
Speaking at the function on the Jatiya Press Club premises the premier said a fortnightly government review of newspaper and electronic media reports suggested that those mostly contained negative news as far as the government or the ruling party was concerned.
"The media should always play a role to brighten the country's image . . . let people know about the government programmes for people's welfare and build public confidence to take forward the country," she said.
Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Awami League's president, regretted that since she was entrusted with the Awami League's stewardship 37 years ago she never got much cooperation from the press.
"Other than a few exceptions I had to proceed amidst adversity and negative criticism from media . . . but it did not cause my headache as I knew what I'm doing," she said.
Sheikh Hasina added that she "firmly believe if I remain on the path of truth and honesty it will certainly yield good results".
Sheikh Hasina said a section of newspapers even did not want to publish the atrocities of BNP-Jammat after 2001 election when Awami League workers and religious minorities were exposed to unrestrained torture and intimidation.
She, however, thanked the journalists who stood beside her and gathered courage to make public the situation at that time.
The premier was particularly critical of two newspapers, which she preferred not to name, for imprudent journalism and said the Ganobhaban does not subscribe the papers.
"These (particular) newspapers carry no value to me as my works will demonstrate what I'm doing for the people," she said.
The premier expressed her hope that the people could realise perfectly the differences between the Awami League and other regimes taking into account the performance of her governments during 1996-2001 and 2001-2006 tenures. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM's media affairs adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, State Minister for Information Tarana Halim joined the function as special guests while BFUJ president Monjurul Ahsan Bubul was in the chair. BFUJ Secretary General Omar Faruque conducted the opening session when presidents of ten district units of the federation also spoke while their general secretaries jointly presented a crest to the premier.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was no more a nation of beggars as her government always emphasised on development of the people at grassroots that reached the per capita income to US$ 1,752 and economic growth rate to 7.65 per cent.
She urged journalists to focus at least on the development of the people and the projects implemented for their welfare.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh must not remain dependent on others and as a victorious nation.
Quoting from the speech of Bangabandhu, which he delivered at the first
AGM of Dhaka Union of Journalists on July 16, 1972, the prime minister said democracy and journalism have their distinctive policy.
"(And) many problems can be solved if we work keeping the policies in mind," she said. Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had taken steps to ensure the freedom of journalists within six months of independence which they never enjoyed before.