Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday underscored the need for bringing all online media under a well-equipped policy.
“Online media is a necessity. It’s now a reality. Simultaneously, fair growth of online media is essential,” he said, speaking as chief guest at the biennial conference of Chattogram Press Club held at Bangabandhu Conference Hall.
The minister said sometimes, online media publish wrong news that can potentially defame the state as well as individuals.
“I will discuss the issue with journalist leaders and other stake holders regarding their registration and running under a framework,” he added.
“I have been involved with media since my student life and subsequently become publicity and publication secretary of Bangladesh Awami League,” he said.
Responding to different demands of the journalists, the Information Minister said the much awaited and pressing issue of the journalists and employees for the ninth wage board award will be announced in the shortest possible time, reports BSS.
He said the seven-member wage board award committee has been restructured with AL general Secretary and Road, Bridge and Transport Minister Obidul Quader as its convenor.
“The first cabinet meeting of the present government has proposed a precise proposal to this effect from Information Ministry and we are working round the clock,” he added.
The minister announced that BTV Chattogram centre will air programmes for nine hours from the next Pahela Boishakh (Bengali New Year on April 14) and run a 12-hour independent transmission centre from December 19, to mark the founding anniversary of the state-owned BTV Chattogram centre.
“BTV Chattogram centre will gradually be turned into a 24-hour terrestrial transmission centre from the next year, he added. Speaking about journalists’ concerned over the Digital Security Act, he said that the government will work on it so that no panic remains among the journalists.
He also disclosed that the formation of national broadcast policy for the journalists is also now at final stage.
Responding to another demand of the journalists, the minister said as part of the pre-election pledge, his ministry will take all efforts to address the accommodation problems of the journalists.
Dr Hasan Mahmud said the structure of Chattogram will radically be changed in the next five years when Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail lines, the tunnel under Karnaphuli river, development of airport road, Mirsari economic zone and marine drive from city gate to Mirsari would be completed.
City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, in his inaugural speech, urged the journalists not to compromise with the anti-liberation forces, communalism, militancy and drugs.
CPC President Kolim Sarwar presided over the function while former CPC President Abu Sufian, Vice-President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Reaz Haider Chowdhury, Chattogram Union of Journalists President Nazim Uddin Shyamol, Chairman of Chattogram Journalist Housing Society Swapan Mollik and CPC general secretary Suklal Das, among others, addressed the function. CPC joint secretary Chowdhury Farid conducted it.
The annual general meeting of the CPC will be held tomorrow while election will be held on January 30.
