Criticism is welcome but actions will be taken for spreading lies and misinformation: Arafat
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Arafat has warned the editors of various newspapers saying that the government welcomes all criticism but will take action if they are found spreading lies and misinformation.
Calling upon the journalists to expose the deviations of the government, he said, "We welcome all such criticisms." But when a kind of agenda-based, systematic falsehood is spread through disinformation, lies, and propaganda in the name of criticism, we understand who is doing it, and why. We condemn those things. We can make mistakes, we can have deviations, we can have failures. The media is there to convey them, it is the responsibility of the media. If presented constructively, we have no problem admitting it and purging them. However, we will take action if any misinformation is spread about the agenda.
He spoke at a round table meeting on 'Media for the Planet: Journalism to tackle the environmental crisis' on the occasion of World Free Press Day-2024 on Saturday (May 4). Editors' Council organized this round table meeting at Tafazzal Hossain Manik Mia Hall of Jatiya Press Club.
The Minister of State for Information said that environmental protection is part of their central policy. Those who help here in the larger interest of the people will get full support from him and his ministry. No matter how hard the reality is created at the grassroots level, they will be given protection and whatever support they need.
Mohammad Ali Arafat said, 'We want to think that the journalists who will contribute negatively to the environmental disaster, the journalists who will expose their information, those journalists are our friends. I want to give them full support as a friend.'
Declaring that the journalism of Mufassil is a bit difficult, he further said that different types of protection are available in Dhaka. We will take steps to make this difficult situation easier. Again, this is also true, there is a lot of malpractice in journalism in Mufassil areas. Where there is a lack of professionalism. This practice of malpractice in journalism damages professional journalists more. Journalists themselves are concerned about it They feels, discipline needs to be brought here, we (government) are not saying. In view of their demands, I am taking some such steps including registration of media.
Mohammad Ali Arafat also said that there are huge demands on media workers’ law. The Media Act was supposed to be passed in the last Parliament. Finally, it went to Standing Committee. I am re-starting the work on the Media Act. A letter has been sent from the Ministry to all the journalists’ organizations, to give two representatives from each organization. Sitting with them, we will review the Media Workers’ Act and make a comprehensive law to pass it in Parliament as soon as possible.
Regarding the ban on entry of journalists to Bangladesh Bank, he said, "I fully believe that the Right to Information Act is there." Under the Right to Information Act, I will be bound to provide the information requested by any media on behalf of the public as soon as possible. We will conduct orientations at various levels of administration to create such a mindset. Because I don't have any problem with information Unless I have a lump in me. The information that peoples have the right to get should be given. I will confirm this. At the same time, I want to say that sensitive information, which falls under the Privacy Act, if someone tries to steal it and publish it, he is a thief. We will not see any of his profession Such sensitive and secret information protection laws exist in all countries. Sensitive institutions like Bangladesh Bank must provide all the information that people have a right to know. At the same time, sensitive information will be kept confidential. Therefore, a system should be made so that they can inform all the information, and it is also important to keep sensitive information protected. We see this happening, how the central banks of other countries of the world operate. How much access do journalists have? We will try to keep everything within the international standards.
The Minister of State for Information delivered a speech on various aspects of media in the discussion meeting. Pinaki Roy, chief reporter of The Daily Star, who has been a journalist for a long time on the environment, gave an opening speech on the theme of the discussion meeting.
The discussion meeting was presided over by Mahfuz Anam, President of the Editorial Board and Editor of Daily Star.
General Secretary of the Editor Council and Editor of The Banik Barta Dewan Hanif Mahmud moderated the meeting while the President of Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOWAB) AK Azad; Editor of Bhorer Kagaz and General Secretary of Jatiya Press Club Shyamal Dutta; Head of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan; Editor of Dhaka Tribune Zafar Sobhan; Acting Editor of Country Transformation Mustafa Mamun addressed the discussion in the meeting. Journalists of various levels including The Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman; The Inqilab editor AMM Bahauddin were also present at the discussion meeting.
