Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has sought the cooperation of the media to build a humanitarian state and foster human values among the people, emphasising that the country’s economy, social policies, and human values should be highlighted alongside politics.
The prime minister made the appeal during an exchange meeting with executives and news heads of electronic media held at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Division Public Administration Room on Monday.
After the meeting, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli told journalists that the prime minister does not want the media to focus solely on politics.
“We do not want to talk only about politics all the time… in every marketplace, field, and everywhere. Without only talking about politics, we have our economy, our social policies, and our human values,” Shibli quoted the prime minister as saying.
The prime minister specifically highlighted the need to awaken human feelings and social conscience, citing an example.
“A dog is being killed, and we are sitting and recording videos… The human feelings and human values within us need to be awakened; our social conscience needs to be awakened,” the prime minister said, emphasising the role of journalists in this regard.
The exchange meeting lasted from 12:45pm to 3:30pm. News Head of Mohona TV Rashedul Haque said they discussed the current state of the media in a cordial and open atmosphere.
“We were able to openly present our views to the prime minister,” he said.
According to Rashedul Haque, various demands were placed before the prime minister, including the formation of a Media Commission, determination of a separate pay scale for electronic media, journalists’ work environment, and job security.
The prime minister specifically sought media cooperation to build Bangladesh as a truly liveable, humane country, the participants noted.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister for Information Yasir Khan Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Advisers Zahed Ur Rahman and Mahdi Amin, and Press Secretary Saleh Shibli were present.
Senior media officials from Bangla Vision, Somoy TV, DBC, Mohona, Ekattor, GTV, Desh TV, News 24, Channel 24, Jamuna TV, Nagorik TV, RTV, and Bangla TV spoke at the meeting. The prime minister later hosted a lunch for the media executives.
