Constructive criticism and responsible journalism play a vital role in accelerating the country’s development, State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Mir Shahe Alam, has said.
He stressed that the media must remain vigilant against misinformation, rumours and propaganda while highlighting the government’s development initiatives before the people.
The state minister made the remarks while addressing the ‘BSRF Dialogue’, organised by the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat Media Centre on Thursday.
“We are not above mistakes. Therefore, we expect constructive criticism and cooperation from the media,” Mir Shahe Alam said.
“You should highlight our mistakes, shortcomings and limitations so that we can correct them and work more effectively for the people,” he added.
Speaking about the development of Bogura, the state minister said the region had remained behind for a long time in terms of development. He said he was working relentlessly to address the gap following the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
During the discussion, he also said he felt fortunate to have BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as both the minister of his ministry and a guardian figure.
Reflecting on his political and professional journey, the minister said he had overcome various challenges and difficulties throughout his career to reach his current position.
He said his experiences in politics had made him more committed to public service. As an elected representative, he had the opportunity to work closely with different levels of administration, which helped him gain practical experience in policymaking and implementing initiatives aimed at public welfare, he added.
The state minister also spoke about his career as an entrepreneur before entering national politics. He said he had made significant contributions to sectors including agriculture, nutrition and human resource management as the founder and chairman of Ruposhi BD Group.
However, after taking up state responsibilities, he handed over the day-to-day management and business operations of his enterprises to family members to avoid any conflict of interest and ensure full focus on his official duties.
“Currently, I am fully dedicated to my government responsibilities, while my family members are managing the business operations,” he said.
The dialogue was chaired by BSRF President Md Masudul Hoque. BSRF General Secretary Obaidullah Badal, members of the organisation, representatives of different journalist forums and organisations, and journalists from print, electronic and online media outlets attended the event.
