There Is No Alternative to Media Freedom:Ruhul Kabir Rizvi

• If Journalists Remain Objective, Many Problems Disappear: Dr. Moeen Khan
• Initiative to Raise Journalists’ Welfare Trust Allocation to 25 Crore Taka: Yasser Khan Chowdhury

Acting Secretary General of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, has said there is no alternative to media freedom in order to develop democracy and ensure the rule of law. He said that if the media presents objective news coverage, terrorism and bribery in society will decrease and society will become much cleaner.

He made these remarks yesterday, Thursday, as chief guest at an event organized to mark the 31st founding anniversary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. BNP’s Acting Secretary General Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that in conventional news media, there are chief reporters, news editors, and editors, and a news item is published only after verification and editing. But social media lacks such an editorial structure, creating opportunities for information — true or false — to spread without verification. Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said if the media presents objective news, terrorism in society will decrease and bribe-taking in society will decrease, and society will become much cleaner. To develop democracy and ensure the rule of law, media must be given the opportunity to work freely. Just as administration and the judiciary must work impartially, in a democratic state the media too must work impartially. To develop democracy, he said, to strengthen our democracy, and to ensure the rule of law, there is no alternative to media freedom. He alleged that over the past 17 years, although the country had many television channels and newspapers, opportunities for expressing opinions were limited. In his words, the situation was such that only one person, one political party, could speak and express views. Those who tried to express opinions outside this were subjected to intimidation or imprisonment. He alleged that talk shows, talk show hosts, and social media were controlled in various ways. Despite the unfavorable situation at the field level, many journalists tried to keep the light of democracy burning, he said, adding that it is because of them that the space for democracy did not shrink entirely.

Calling on journalists to play a responsible role, he said they should refrain from presenting slander, propaganda, and personal matters on social media as news. To explain journalism, he said everyone knows that a snake catching a frog is not news — but the day a frog catches a snake, that is news.

Recalling his own long-standing relationship with Dhaka Reporters Unity, Rizvi said journalists have, at various times, served as a place of refuge for their organization — particularly highlighting his personal relationship with journalists during politically adverse times. He said that during the fascist crackdown, spaces and venues had become so restricted that those who expressed opposing views at that time had no place at all — nowhere to stand, nowhere to speak. That space existed, to some extent, at Dhaka Reporters Unity.

Extending greetings to journalists on the occasion of Dhaka Reporters Unity’s 31st founding anniversary, Rizvi said the media must play an important role in moving the journey of democracy toward its desired destination.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr. Abdul Moeen Khan said that if journalists remain objective, many problems disappear. He said journalism is a difficult job — everyone knows the work of politicians is hard, but he sometimes thinks that fulfilling the responsibility of journalism is even harder than the work of politicians. Dr. Moeen Khan referred to journalists as the “fourth pillar” of the state, saying they are called “the fourth estate,” meaning journalists constitute the fourth pillar of the state. Underscoring the importance of journalists, he said they themselves should realize just how important they are. Praising the role of Dhaka Reporters Unity, he said many journalists and journalist institutions exist, but DRU is perhaps one such institution that, as far as possible, works within its own boundaries — for that reason, he said, he wished to express his respect for DRU. Dr. Moeen Khan said DRU has maintained its character over a long period, and if it continues to do so, the people of Bangladesh will hold it in even greater respect.

Information and Broadcasting State Minister Yasser Khan Chowdhury said an initiative has been taken to increase the Journalists’ Welfare Trust allocation from 6 crore taka to 25 crore taka. He said a proposal has already been made regarding increasing the welfare allocation for journalists, and the ministry has made a policy decision on this matter. Mr. Yasser Khan Chowdhury said the funds currently allocated for the welfare of journalist brothers and sisters under the Journalists’ Welfare Trust stand at 6 crore taka at this moment, and that they have already proposed increasing that to 25 crore taka. The State Minister further said, “If we are unable to disburse this entire amount within this fiscal year, the allocation of 25 crore taka will be approved for our journalist brothers and sisters within the next fiscal year.” He expressed happiness at being able to take part with journalists in DRU’s 31st founding anniversary and wished the organization continued prosperity.