Develope objective journalism to establish people's rights
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
President Zillur Rahman has laid emphasis on developing objective journalism for protecting the country's independence and sovereignty as well as establishing rights for the people.
"Ideal journalism is one of the safeguards to protect country's independence and sovereignty as well as for establishing rights for the people and the society," he said while speaking at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Memorial Lecture-2010 as the chief guest in the city Tuesday, reports UNB.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad was present at the function as the special guest organised by the daily Bhorer Kagoj.
Internationally renowned columnist of India Kuldip Nayar delivered the memorial lecture titled 'Role of Media in Emerging Democracy'.
Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta made the welcome speech while Professor Tazin Chowdhury gave vote of thanks on behalf of the family members of Zahur Hossain Chowdhury.
Zahur Hossain Chowdhury, one of the country's eminent journalists, began his career in journalism in the renowned Indian newspaper Statesman and then contributed immensely to the development of journalism in the country until his death in 1980.
Mentioning that the mass media are a means of change in society, President Zillur Rahman said protection of national interest would not be possible if the mass media could not play appropriate role in placing the greater interest of the people and the country above all by ignoring the interests of vested quarters.
"Journalists will have to adopt such attitudes and mentality."
Explaining his long experience of political life and describing mass media as fourth estate and watchdog of the country, the President suggested that journalists should be ideal and professional like Zahur Hossain Chowdhury who was imbued with patriotism for nurturing objective journalism.
He mentioned that the present government was committed to building Bangabandhu's 'Sonar Bangla', with a belief in full freedom of the press in the country.
"The government is committed to protecting the rights of journalists as well as helping expansion of the press as an industry," he told the function, adding that the government has taken some epoch-making steps to uphold the dignity of the journalists.
Addressing the function, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is relentlessly working to ensure the freedom of the press and expression in the country.
"As a result, presently the mass media of the country are enjoying full freedom," he told the audience.
The minister urged the journalists to provide true and objective news identifying the flaws of the government. "It never brings any fruitful result if the mass media are used for political interest," he noted.
In his lecture, Kuldip Nayar said emerging democracies face many dangers: but two are really fatal - one is the growing fundamentalism and the other is the scenario for military intervention.
"Ideal journalism is one of the safeguards to protect country's independence and sovereignty as well as for establishing rights for the people and the society," he said while speaking at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Memorial Lecture-2010 as the chief guest in the city Tuesday, reports UNB.
Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad was present at the function as the special guest organised by the daily Bhorer Kagoj.
Internationally renowned columnist of India Kuldip Nayar delivered the memorial lecture titled 'Role of Media in Emerging Democracy'.
Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta made the welcome speech while Professor Tazin Chowdhury gave vote of thanks on behalf of the family members of Zahur Hossain Chowdhury.
Zahur Hossain Chowdhury, one of the country's eminent journalists, began his career in journalism in the renowned Indian newspaper Statesman and then contributed immensely to the development of journalism in the country until his death in 1980.
Mentioning that the mass media are a means of change in society, President Zillur Rahman said protection of national interest would not be possible if the mass media could not play appropriate role in placing the greater interest of the people and the country above all by ignoring the interests of vested quarters.
"Journalists will have to adopt such attitudes and mentality."
Explaining his long experience of political life and describing mass media as fourth estate and watchdog of the country, the President suggested that journalists should be ideal and professional like Zahur Hossain Chowdhury who was imbued with patriotism for nurturing objective journalism.
He mentioned that the present government was committed to building Bangabandhu's 'Sonar Bangla', with a belief in full freedom of the press in the country.
"The government is committed to protecting the rights of journalists as well as helping expansion of the press as an industry," he told the function, adding that the government has taken some epoch-making steps to uphold the dignity of the journalists.
Addressing the function, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is relentlessly working to ensure the freedom of the press and expression in the country.
"As a result, presently the mass media of the country are enjoying full freedom," he told the audience.
The minister urged the journalists to provide true and objective news identifying the flaws of the government. "It never brings any fruitful result if the mass media are used for political interest," he noted.
In his lecture, Kuldip Nayar said emerging democracies face many dangers: but two are really fatal - one is the growing fundamentalism and the other is the scenario for military intervention.