Don’t publish any news that hampers country’s image, PM tells journalists

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina on Monday asked the media to do constructive criticism for the welfare of the country, not for damaging it, reports UNB.
"The criticism should be for the welfare of the country and not for damaging it," she said while addressing a function at her office in the city. In the function, the premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to the families of dead, sick, insolvent and injured journalists.
This year some Tk 34.6 million (3.46 crore) were given against 438 journalists as financial assistance from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) Fund.
Hasina said the Awami League government has ensured freedom of media in the last 14 years. "None had ever enjoyed so much freedom in the past," she said.
The PM asked the media to do criticism as much as required to correct the government but not to hamper the ongoing progress of the country. "We don't want that the progress of Bangladesh be hampered," she said.
She said the media will have to have the sense of responsibility and dutifulness towards the country and the nation while they enjoy freedom. The Prime Minister said her government allowed private sector to run television channels when she came to power in 1996 and then gave licenses of many television channels to generate employment.
She said her government is going to bring the private television channels under a wage board.
She called upon the media owners to donate money to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust.
Sheikh Hasina said her government can take arrangements so that the journalists can buy lands or flats making payment in installments.