FM urges journalists to work together
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday hoped that the journalists would work together, as they did in the past, for the cause of the nation at this trying time.
"There is no way other than working together to face the future challenges," he said during informal talks with the outgoing and newly elected office-bearers of the National Press Club managing committee and senior journalists.
Morshed Khan, accompanied by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman and Foreign Secretary Shamser Mobin Chowdhury, visited the press club yesterday to exchange New Year greetings with the journalists.
" We must have respect for the press, and the nation also expects a great deal from the press at this critical time," said the foreign minister.
He, however, appreciated the role of the media in the face of recent campaigns against the country.
Referring to government's current foreign policy focus on "Look East", Khan said the initiative should have been taken much earlier for the economic benefit of the country.
About Dhaka's relations with its neighbours, the foreign minister said problems with India and Myanmar should be addressed in totality for economic growth.
Bangladesh gives importance on maintaining good neighbourly relations with India, and "we should remain engaged all the time with our immediate neighbours," said Khan.
To a query, the FM said, "We are going out of the way to work together with India."
The journalists exchanged views on how to project Bangladesh's positive image abroad by appointing more professional journalists in important foreign countries and sending cultural groups under the cultural diplomacy alongside the government's economic diplomacy.
Newly elected press club president and News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed, BSS chief editor Amanullah Kabir, Observer editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, former state minister Syed Deedar Bakth, press club senior vice-president Nurul Huda, vice-president Bakhtiar Rana, general secretary Sawkat Mahmud, outgoing general secretary Swapan Kumar Saha, treasurer Abdur Rahman Khan, DG of External Publicity Zahirul Huq and PIO Khandaker Monirul Huq were present on the occasion.