"We have witnessed incidents of cancelling newspaper declaration and journalist arrest in the regime of this government like the tenure of BNP or Awami League government," he observed.

Prof Salam was delivering Bard Journalist Monajatuddin Memorial Lecture titled 'Journalism and newspaper in Bangladesh-India: Growing up through long struggle' at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in the city on the 62nd birth anniversary of the noted journalist who roamed across the North Bengal in search of investigative stories throughout his career.

Prof Salam said during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat coalition government, even a number of ministers attacked the media when they were unhappy over the news coverage. The newspapers were under pressure due to those ministers and their cadre groups.

Since 1990-91, the media in the country have been enjoying partial freedom, as the then caretaker government repealed some sections of Press and Publication Act. But freedom of the press is yet to be ensured as some restrictions and conditions, including newsprint distribution, advertisement circulation and conditional freedom remain, he said.

Charon Sangbadik Monajatuddin Smriti Sangsad organised the lecture presided by economist Dr Atiur Rahman while Justice Ghulam Rabbani was present as the chief guest.

Justice Ghulam Rabbani said the country now needs a journalist like Monajatuddin to raise awareness against corruption against the backdrop of massive landslide in Chittagong thanks to some unscrupulous people's activities and embezzlement of relief corrugated iron sheets by politicians.

Atiur Rahman, president of the Charon Sangbadik Monajatuddin Smriti Sangsad, said throughout his career, Monajatuddin spoke of common and disadvantaged people. He showed us the real pictures of economic and social imbalance.

He said the Sangsad would arrange training programmes for young journalists so that dedicated journalists like Monajatuddin can come out in future.

Journalist Dinesh Das, also general secretary of the Sangsad, moderated the programme.