The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, invited constructive criticisms from media to help her government running the country on right track.
'Your constructive criticisms would help us know about our flaws,' she said at an iftar party jointly hosted by Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists at the National Press Club on Thursday.
The prime minister also requested the media to refrain from making false propaganda against the government.
'Please do not do yellow journalism. When a false story is told repeatedly, the people also start believing it as true,' she said.
Hasina said the present improved status of the private television channels was the outcome of the contributions of the last Awami league government that had issued licences to the channels leading to a revolution.
'Unfortunately, it now seems the nation has to pay for this revolution. I regularly watch television news and programmes. I have to listen to harsh criticisms of the government, though we are working sincerely for people's development,' she said.
The prime minister said the media can criticise anything for larger interests, but if her sincerity and commitment towards people is questioned, it will be shocking.
Without naming anyone, Hasina said like the changing in the six seasons, minds of some people in society are also changing.
She compared the changes in the present day politics with the flow of water of the Buriganga.
'35 years ago, Buriganga's water was very clean. Now it is polluted,' she said.
The prime minister urged the people not to be frustrated, rather work hand in hand with government for national development.
She also called for remaining alert so that democracy is not harmed anymore.
'If democracy could run uninterruptedly in Bangladesh, we would certainly fulfil all development targets,' she said.
The prime minister said the government was sincerely working to form the 8th wage board for journalists.
A nine-member committee has already been formed to formulate the 8th wage board, she said.
Hasina said the government had allocated seed money of Tk 1 crore to set up a welfare fund for journalists under the information minister.
The prime minister said Tk 30 lakh committed by her for the welfare fund of BFUJ would be given in phases.
Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, information minister Abul Kalam Azad, journalist ABM Musa, Jatiya Party (Manju) president Anwar Hossain Manju, CPB president Manjurul Ahsan Khan and general secretary Mujahedul Islam Selim, among others, attended the iftar.
Acting BFUJ president Utpal Sarkar, secretary general Jalil Bhuiyan, former BFUJ leaders Habibur Rahman Milon, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, DUJ president Shah Alamgir, general secretary Abu Jafar Surja, PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were on the stage with the prime minister.
Source : New Age
