Govt has not meddled with media: Muhith
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the government has not meddled with the maseerence, he said while delivering his budget speech in parliament yesterday.
He, however, did not mention the recent closure of Channel 1, a private TV station, and the daily Amar Desh and the arrest of its acting editor Mahmudur Rahman.
Muhith said, “In my previous budget speech, I said that once we can ensure freedom of the media as well as free flow of information, accountability and transparency will be enhanced, corruption will be reduced and good governance will be established.”
He also requested all senior and renowned journalists working in newspapers, electronic media and other institutions to arrange training for their junior colleagues.
At times, he said, the level of professionalism in this field falls short of expectations and “I feel saddened at the lukewarm efforts of our journalist friends in conducting investigative journalism.”
In this regard, the senior journalists and the editors can play a positive role, the minister observed.
He also asked the owners of newspapers to offer decent emoluments to journalists following the Wage Board Award.
Muhith also proposed to allocate Tk. 3.08 crore in the 2010-2011 budget for the Press Institute of Bangladesh to provide training to journalists.
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