Govt open to constructive criticism from media: PM

The government is never afraid of healthy criticism, said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday.

Everything good out of those criticism, she said the government will not hesitate to accept and correct its action.

She said these while distributing cheques of financial assistance and donation among journalists and their family members from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust at her office in Dhaka yesterday.

Some 196 journalists who are suffering from various diseases, financially insolvent, and family members of the journalists who died in different incidents were given the donation and financial assistance.

Pointing out her government's steps for privatisation of electronic media the prime minister said everybody is enjoying the benefit of their pragmatic decisions. But, a section of people is using the media only for castigating the government.

Hasina said a draft for revival of the Newspaper Employees Services Condition Act 1974 in amended form is ready.

The premier urged the information minister to take necessary steps for announcing a new wage board for journalists.

She also assured completion of the trial of all cases related to killing of the journalists.

“… our media is enjoying the highest freedom now. But it's also required to maintain responsibility if you want to enjoy the freedom,” Hasina said.

In this regard, she pointed out the “careless” live coverage of some television channels on terror attack in Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan in July, saying “our media sometimes occurs some incidents which really cause trouble for us.”

Media should go through some policy which is applicable globally for such coverage, she said. She said the government has taken steps for professional training for journalists.

Meanwhile, Hasina said BNP as patron of all evil forces did not change its character at all, which the party has proved through inclusion of kith and keens of anti-liberation forces in its recently constituted central committee.