The freedom of press will strengthen the democracy in the country and media workers should be accountable for their activities to the people, said Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu yesterday.
Hinting at the media, he said everybody in an elected government including the prime minister should stand before the mirror everyday to know the reactions of their activities.
The minister made the remarks at a launching ceremony of a book titled "Freedom of Press in South Asia" written by Md Akhtaruzzaman, a metropolitan additional session's judge of Dhaka court, at Dhaka Reporter's Unity.
Urging journalists not to publish fragmented, incomplete, or false information that may harm the nation's history, culture or communal harmony, he said information is not a commodity; rather it should be used as a part of social responsibility.
Pointing out the recent violence on the Buddhist community at Ramu in Cox's Bazar and other places in Chittagong, Hasanul Haque said the media should be responsible in publishing right information.
With Dhaka International University Vice Chancellor Prof Nurul Momen in the chair, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh Law Commission' acting Chairman Prof Shah Alam, and former president of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) M Shahjahan Miah also spoke on the occasion.
Prof Mizanur Rahman said a state has no essence without having newspapers. But the media must be responsible to uphold the state's dignity with its freedom.