Azad focuses on utilising youth to build prosperous S Asia
Monday, 9 January 2012
FE Report
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad Sunday termed the young people as "power house" and emphasised the need for utilising them in effective and positive ways to help build a prosperous South Asia.
The minister made the call at a convention - 'Lead 2012: Youth in Rising South Asia: Promises and Dreams' - at a city hotel. He was speaking at a session on media, titled 'What does it take to connect and inspire?'
The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in collaboration with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), organised the two-day gathering of the South Asian youth and business community.
The minister said the youths are the greatest resource of South Asia, and their role is most important for bringing about positive changes in the society.
He said it is the duty of family, society and media, and most significantly of political leaders to encourage and enthuse the young people to develop themselves in the right way for utilising their talent and help their potential to blossom.
"If they are not properly nurtured, the energy of youth would be used in negative ways," he said.
The minister said supports are needed from the youths of the region to create a stronger South Asia, free from poverty, diseases and terrorism.
Abul Kalam Azad said more and more young people are coming to join the newspapers and television stations in Bangladesh.
"Our media is cent per cent free of government influence," he added.
Editor of the New Age Nurul Kabir said there are two kinds of journalism - one is "independent" and another with "social engagement".
"I like the later one," he said.
Mr Nurul Kabir also said, "We have democracy in the South Asian countries, but we don't have a democratic way of life. We have to fight relentlessly until democracy is established."
Eminent Nepali journalist Kanak Mani Dixit cited the example of Sher Shah Suri, who really understood the need of connectivity in South Asia as a ruler.
Mr Dixit said there is no need to cite the romantic idea that the South Asians are the same people. "We are different people with distinctive identities in one region, which is South Asia."
"If we try to unite the theme of development, each community in the region would be prosperous."
He said the most important things that the region needs are self-questioning and self-criticism.
"Criticise your government and question your own State about what they are doing, everything would be nice in the region," he added.
Simon Dring, a British journalist and former managing director of the first Bangladeshi private channel ETV, described how he embarked into the journey of creating the first private television station in Bangladesh and how it was closed down.
Sharing his experiences of journalism, Mr Dring said Bangladesh needs to formulate regulations for the private-sector television channels, so that no station gets closed because of any political reason.
He also called for opening up terrestrial facility to all the television stations, and not to keep it as a monopoly for the government.
Jawad Naqbi, a Delhi-based columnist of the Pakistani daily Dawn, shared his experiences regarding cross-border journalism. He urged all to exercise self-criticism for building a better South Asia.
Moderator of the programme and editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said it is the fundamental right of every human being to think free and act free.
He said South Asia has great congregation of young people, as 73 per cent of the total population here are under the age of 40 years.
He also urged media personnel to include more young voice into their policy matters.
As a large number of audience asked corporate influence on the media, he said readers are the best people who can create influence on the newspapers.
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad Sunday termed the young people as "power house" and emphasised the need for utilising them in effective and positive ways to help build a prosperous South Asia.
The minister made the call at a convention - 'Lead 2012: Youth in Rising South Asia: Promises and Dreams' - at a city hotel. He was speaking at a session on media, titled 'What does it take to connect and inspire?'
The SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in collaboration with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), organised the two-day gathering of the South Asian youth and business community.
The minister said the youths are the greatest resource of South Asia, and their role is most important for bringing about positive changes in the society.
He said it is the duty of family, society and media, and most significantly of political leaders to encourage and enthuse the young people to develop themselves in the right way for utilising their talent and help their potential to blossom.
"If they are not properly nurtured, the energy of youth would be used in negative ways," he said.
The minister said supports are needed from the youths of the region to create a stronger South Asia, free from poverty, diseases and terrorism.
Abul Kalam Azad said more and more young people are coming to join the newspapers and television stations in Bangladesh.
"Our media is cent per cent free of government influence," he added.
Editor of the New Age Nurul Kabir said there are two kinds of journalism - one is "independent" and another with "social engagement".
"I like the later one," he said.
Mr Nurul Kabir also said, "We have democracy in the South Asian countries, but we don't have a democratic way of life. We have to fight relentlessly until democracy is established."
Eminent Nepali journalist Kanak Mani Dixit cited the example of Sher Shah Suri, who really understood the need of connectivity in South Asia as a ruler.
Mr Dixit said there is no need to cite the romantic idea that the South Asians are the same people. "We are different people with distinctive identities in one region, which is South Asia."
"If we try to unite the theme of development, each community in the region would be prosperous."
He said the most important things that the region needs are self-questioning and self-criticism.
"Criticise your government and question your own State about what they are doing, everything would be nice in the region," he added.
Simon Dring, a British journalist and former managing director of the first Bangladeshi private channel ETV, described how he embarked into the journey of creating the first private television station in Bangladesh and how it was closed down.
Sharing his experiences of journalism, Mr Dring said Bangladesh needs to formulate regulations for the private-sector television channels, so that no station gets closed because of any political reason.
He also called for opening up terrestrial facility to all the television stations, and not to keep it as a monopoly for the government.
Jawad Naqbi, a Delhi-based columnist of the Pakistani daily Dawn, shared his experiences regarding cross-border journalism. He urged all to exercise self-criticism for building a better South Asia.
Moderator of the programme and editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said it is the fundamental right of every human being to think free and act free.
He said South Asia has great congregation of young people, as 73 per cent of the total population here are under the age of 40 years.
He also urged media personnel to include more young voice into their policy matters.
As a large number of audience asked corporate influence on the media, he said readers are the best people who can create influence on the newspapers.