No govt pressure on media: Nahid

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam, on Tuesday, said there is no pressure of the government on the country's mass media, and the media should focus on objective news with courage taking the advantage of the prevailing freedom of expression, reports BSS.
"The people are constantly being misled by rumors and misinformation as the correct information is not being widely disseminated. The mass media would have to play a leading role in preventing rumors and misinformation," he said while exchanging views with the editors of the daily newspapers at the ministry .
Mentioning the role of the media during the anti-discrimination movement, Nahid urged the editors to publish stories on the sacrifices of martyrs and injured people of the students-people mass uprising in their respective media outlets.
"Mass media would have to play a responsible role to keep the martyrs and injured people in the memory of the people."
Criticising the immediate past fascist government, the adviser said many mass media people could not publish the truth in fear but such situation has been changed now.
The adviser urged the journalists to publish information on all misdeeds, including enforced disappearances and corruption of the fascist government, in their media outlets.
In the meeting, the editors said there is no interference of the present government in the mass media, which is a good sign.
Information and Broadcasting secretary Mahbuba Farjana, Department of Films and Publication director general Abul Kalam Mohammad Shamsuddin, Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust managing director Muhammad Abdullah, among others, were present.