FBCCI to help develop media industry

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) decided on Thursday to work towards resolving problems in the media industry.
The country's apex trade body made the decision during its Standing Committee meeting on Press, Media and Cultural Affairs at the FBCCI office in the capital.
Addressing the meeting, FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu said that the media has been playing a pivotal role in the country's socio-economic development.
However, the sector is suffering from various problems, especially the price of the newsprint is a big issue for newspapers, he said.
He urged the committee to identify the problems and potentials and come up with recommendations.
He also announced plans to honour businessmen who fought in the country's War of Liberation and sought assistance from the standing committee in this regard.
Vice-President Md Amin Helaly said that the development of the media industry is crucial to the progress of the country.
He assured that FBCCI will provide all possible assistance in resolving the crisis in the print and electronic media.
Director-in-charge of the committee Dr Kazi Ertaza Hassan said the price hike of paper and ink are the biggest challenge facing the newspapers.
The rise of the online portals leads to the shrinking of the advertisement market for the print media, putting the owners in an extra challenge.
He also assured that initiative would be taken to resolve these crises.
Dr Hassan also announced plans to produce a documentary on expatriate freedom fighters and personalities who contributed to the Liberation War as a mark of honour to late renowned journalist and writer Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury.
At the same time, he called upon all to work unitedly to make Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla a reality under the guidance of the Prime Minister.
The meeting was chaired by the chairman of the committee Delwar Hossain Raja.
Co-chairmen of the committee Munir Ahmed Khan, Md Jahangir Alam and FBCCI directors Syed Moazzem Hossain, Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal, Harun Or Rashid, Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque were present, among others.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com