Online newsportal should speak out against rumours: Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud urged to be vocal against rumors and misinformation of online news portals registered as part of mainstream media.
The minister made this request in an exchange of views with the leaders of Online Newsportal Association Bangladesh (ONAB) at the official residence on Minto Road in the capital on Friday afternoon.
'ONAB' President Mollah M Amjad Hossain, General Secretary Shahin Chowdhury, Vice President Soumitra Deb, Joint General Secretary Md. Siddiqur Rahman and Ashraful Kabir Asif, among the executive members Professor Apu Ukil, Nazrul Islam Mithu, Ayan Ahmed participated in the exchange of views on this day.
When they raised the demand of formulating 'Online Advertising Policy', Minister Hashan assured to consider thee matter carefully.
In the discussion, the minister said that Sheikh Hasina's government believes in freedom of expression, freedom of media and nurtures a culture of welcoming criticism. This is why there has been an unprecedented development or “exponential growth” of the media during our government.
There is freedom of expression in the country, but there is a lack of responsibility in some areas of the media. Hasan Mahmud said that some of the hoaxes online operated in the country and abroad are now a means of spreading rumours. During the construction of the Padma Bridge, the same was seen in the Ramu and Nasirnagar incidents.
After the exchange of views, the information minister answered various questions of the journalists.
BNP's siege by leaders burning cars with workers from hiding,
Information Minister said, 'BNP leaders themselves burn cars by giving money to workers and terrorists from hiding, their blockade program is to conduct attacks on people. These are not the work of any political party, but the work of a terrorist organization.
He said, 'Government is determined to catch all terrorists, miscreants. I will also appeal to the people - they are the enemy of the country, nation, society, the enemy of the people, they are worse than the ferocious hyena. Therefore, it is necessary to build a united resistance against them.
When asked about the 48-hour blockade called by BNP from next Sunday, the Broadcasting Minister further said, 'Nobody else in the world burns cars in the name of hartal-blockade. When we were in the opposition, we never burnt the carts, let out the air from the wheels of the big rickshaws. However, BNP's blockade program has already failed. There was a traffic jam on the road yesterday (Thursday) as well. People are not observing the blockade, but the sense of fear is also disappearing.'
In the context of 'conspiracy of outsiders despite 56% increase in the salary of garment workers',
Hashan Mahmud said that despite the increase in the salary of garment workers by 56 percent to Tk. 12,500 per month, outsiders are still trying to create instability in this sector. The same circles are now trying to create instability in garments. Those who are not workers, do not work in any industry, who have cars, have large bank balances, have beautiful flats in Dhaka, they are the "labor leaders" and the owners of the pillar of unrest.'
The minister said, 'Some of them have demanded 25,000 taka for the workers' salary. But those who pass from the university and enter the jobs in various institutions including government or banks also get a salary of 20,000 taka. That is, in terms of reality, this claim is actually not acceptable.
The garment industry must also be kept alive, otherwise the salary will be paid, Hasan said, 'That's why the Prime Minister has fixed Tk. 12,500 and 5% salary increase every year after meeting the owners and workers. After that most of the workers went back to work satisfied. But in some places outsiders are trying to create unrest. Police are identifying many people from video footage. Journalists are requested to do investigative report on those outside the workforce, as these outsiders also have sabotage plans.'
