Prime Minister\u2019s Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman on Sunday said Bangladesh should reach a stage where activism by journalists is no longer needed and every journalist can express their views fearlessly and provide accurate information.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want the death of that kind of activism. We want to see a liberal democratic Bangladesh where any journalist can express their views fearlessly and provide accurate information,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks as a special guest at a discussion organised by the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) and Journalist Abdus Salam Smriti Sangsad at the PIB auditorium in the evening, marking the 116th birth anniversary of journalist Abdus Salam, founder editor of PIB and The Bangladesh Observer.<\/p>\n
BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the programme as the chief guest.<\/p>\n
Zahed said journalists have two roles\u2014one as professionals and another as activists when national interests demand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn countries like ours, where democracy has not yet become sufficiently institutionalised, activism by journalists is needed at some point in some form,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Referring to the previous 17 years, Zahed said journalists failed to play such a role and instead went in the opposite direction, contributing to the country\u2019s decline through flattery.<\/p>\n
He said journalists could at least have tried to maintain a broad standard of professional journalism even if they did not engage in activism, but they failed to do that as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead, journalists started flattering (those in power) and drowned the country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Zahed said suppressing freedom of expression brings no benefit to a democratic government that wants to be democratically elected again in the future.<\/p>\n
He said attempts to restrict freedom of expression were a characteristic of authoritarian governments, something that had been seen during Abdus Salam\u2019s lifetime and had compelled him to engage in a form of activism.<\/p>\n
The adviser said Bangladesh should remember Abdus Salam while ensuring that the country never again has to go through another mass uprising.<\/p>\n
He said the goal should be for Bangladesh to remain a democratic state where any government can be changed through elections.<\/p>\n
Zahed also stressed the need to distinguish journalism from disinformation.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that disinformation is appearing in some areas of mainstream journalism as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want journalists to be able to practise journalism openly, criticise freely and develop the necessary skills to do so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The discussion was chaired by PIB Director General Faruk Wasif.<\/p>\n
Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Md Abdus Salam, among others, attended the event as special guests.<\/p>\n
-UNB<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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