"Even in the changed world scenario, we have taken steps to relax the Official Secrets Act," she said, adding that the media were now working in a complete independent environment.

The prime minister was addressing a function marking the handing over of audiovisual vans and multimedia projectors to the Mass Communications Department at the International Conference Centre yesterday.

She handed over to district information officers the keys and allotment letters of 24 vans and 64 multimedia projectors received under "Advocacy on Reproductive Health and Gender Issues Through Department of Mass Communications" programme of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).

Documentaries, spots and films will be projected with the projector-mounted vans in remote areas of the country to make people aware of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and the negative aspects of early marriage.

Information Minister Tariqul Islam, UNFPA Country Representative Sunita Mukherjee and Information Secretary Nazmul Alam Siddiqui also addressed the function.

In her address, the prime minister said dissemination of information is a science having a deep relation with human psychology.

"If a campaign is not convincing and acceptable, it's not only useless, but also damaging," she said and asked the officials concerned to be cautious in disseminating information.

Recalling the contributions of the Mass Communications Department to create awareness among the people, the prime minister called upon the members of the department to immediately get over their shortcomings to revive its lost glory.

She asked the officials to be more creative and innovative in ideas to create mass awareness.

Information Minister Tariqul Islam asked the information officers to work sincerely and said there should not be any difference in what we say and what we actually do.