Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said it is a big challenge to present proper news items and establish a newspaper for the masses in the current era of competition in publishing news in the quickest possible time, reports BSS.
"In the last 14 years, the country witnessed an exponential growth of mass media side by side addition of many challenges. A competition of presenting the latest news quicker than other media has begun," he said.
"To do this, it is seen many times that some news items are published which are not correct and misleading. It occurs in online media to a great extent. So, responsibility is required side by side independence," added Hasan.
He was addressing, as the chief guest, the fresh publication ceremony of Dainik Desh Bartaman at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The minister said newspapers or any media are not for only presenting news or entertainment programmes rather a newspaper can open the third eye of the people or unearth many hidden issues.
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said media can draw the attention of responsible officials about which society, state and government has no attention and it can give suggestions about what to do.
"We live in a multidimensional, democratic, debate-oriented society. Press freedom is very essential to build the democratic social system on a strong base," he said.
He said the extent of freedom the media enjoys in Bangladesh, the way it can freely write everything, is not possible in many developing countries of the world.
In many developed countries, media enjoys freedom as well as it also has to be responsible about their actions and publications, he mentioned.
Media has to pay fine or face punishment for making mistakes or presenting false news in those countries, he said.
The minister said there is no such instance so far in Bangladesh. Sometimes, Press Council rebuked some media as the council has no more power apart from rebuking.
"So, we need to ensure our concerted responsibility side by side press freedom," he said.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
