DHAKA: President M Abdul Hamid on Monday (Feb 18) asked mass media to play a responsible role and give priority to the national interest abiding by the journalistic ethics.

The President was addressing a programme marking the 45th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Press Council Day and Press Council award-giving ceremony at a hotel in the capital city.

He said media, democracy and development are interlinked. Each of the three key components will be dysfunctional without others. The mass media can help institutionalize the democracy. But it should be through the rules and disciplines.

“Fabricated, provocative news and yellow journalism can never be the friend of democracy,” he said.

The Press Council can play a very significant role as the ‘watchdog’ in this regard, the President added. 

He also asked the Press Council to formulate regulations for other mass media as of print media.

Five personalities and two institutions have been honored with Press Council award for their outstanding contributions to journalism.

Late editor of Samakal Golam Sarwar was given lifetime achievement award while Jasim Uddin Harun from The Financial Express received award in development journalism, Md Murshid Alam from Dainik Mukta Barta published from Bogura in rural journalism category, Sony Ramani from Daily New Age in photography, Ayesha Siddika Akashi from daily Subarnogram published from Madaripur in women journalism.

Daily Ittefaq and Dainik Azadi were awarded in the ‘institution category’.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, MP, Press Council Chairman Justice Mohammed Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Information Ministry Hasanul Haq Inu, Information Secretary Abdul Malek and Press Council Member Manzurul Ahsan Bulbul also spoke the programme.

BDST: 0924 HRS, FEB 18, 2019
RS