Criticise govt constructively

Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday hoped that the new executive committee of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) would put in its best efforts in further helping increase professionalism of journalists.
DRU should organise more seminars, symposiums, workshops and skill development programmes to help enhance the skill of journalists and their quality of reporting, he said.
The information minister was distributing prizes on the DRU premises in the city among reporters for best reporting.
The awards were given at the closing session of installation ceremony of the newly elected executive committee of DRU.
With DRU President Mostaque Hossain in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by General Secretary Jamal Uddin, President of Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and senior journalist Monwar Hossain and Convener of the programme organising committee Shamsuddin Ahmed.
DRU Women Affairs Secretary Alpha Arzu, the first-ever elected woman office bearer of the reporters' platform, conducted the function.
Azad said reporting in English is very important for the country and stressed the need for enhancing the quality of reporting in English alongside Bangla for projecting Bangladesh before the world community.
He sought support from the media for constructive criticism of the government's activities. "You (journalists) should criticise the government by providing the people with correct information," said the minister.
Eight reporters got the award for their excellent reporting on education, investigation and War of Liberation.
They are Keramat Ullah Biplob of ATN Bangla, Saiful Hassan of Boishakhi TV, Sharifuzzaman Pintu of Daily Prothom Alo, Zakir Hossain of Daily Jugantar, Hasan Arif of Jai Jai Din, Rahenur Islam of Dainik Kaler Kantha, Arifur Rahman of Dainik Bangladesh Protidin and Zakir Hossain of Daily Jugantar.