S M Tajul Islam: Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that Bangladesh has not yet succeeded in building a strong and effective media sector.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar organized by the National Editors’ Council at the DFP Building on Monday (June 15) as the chief guest.
The minister compared the media to a mirror of society and the state, saying, “The clearer the mirror, the more accurately we can see our reflection. The media is the mirror of society and the state. Therefore, it is the responsibility of media professionals to keep that mirror clear and accurate. I believe editors are fulfilling that responsibility. However, in my opinion, these initiatives have not yet reached their full potential. As a result, we have failed to develop a strong media sector in the country. The previous government must bear responsibility for this failure.”
He further said that the government wants to unite all stakeholders around a specific objective. “If we cannot reach consensus on our goals from the outset, our initiatives may end in failure, just as they have in the past,” he added.
Highlighting the nature of journalism, Swapan said competition is inevitable in the profession, but journalists must remain united in serving the nation and its people.
He also emphasized the importance of inclusivity in dealing with differing opinions. “Whenever we engage in differing viewpoints, consciously or unconsciously, we tend to become more rigid in defending our own positions. Each of us has our own thoughts and ideals. However, instead of merely reacting to opposing views, we should explore how to incorporate different opinions into an inclusive framework and make them part of a constructive discourse,” he said.
Among those present at the seminar were Mahmudur Rahman, Editor of Amar Desh; Kader Gani Chowdhury, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ); Abdul Hai Sikder, Editor of Jugantor; Shafiqul Islam, Editor of The Daily Wada and former Press Secretary; Hasan Hafiz, Editor of Kaler Kantho; and Abu Saleh Akon, President of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), among others.
