Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury on Wednesday emphasized the importance of integrity in journalism, asserting that honest reporting is essential to uncover the truth and foster societal progress.
Speaking at the 44th founding anniversary of the National Journalists Association at the National Press Club, Kader Gani Chowdhury urged journalists to uphold the core values of objectivity and honesty.
He said that the people do not like slave journalism with all their hearts. They do not like surrender. Therefore, editors and journalists must play a fearless, unselfish role against injustice. The job of a journalist is to portray the true picture of society. That is why the media is called the mirror of society. The image of society is reflected in this mirror.
The event was presided over by National Journalists Association Central Executive Council President Mominur Rashid Shine and moderated by Secretary General Muhammad Kamrul Islam.
The event was attended by Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union Vice President and Bangladesh Photojournalist Association President freedom fighter KM Mohsin, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) President Shahidul Islam, organization advisor Abul Basar Majumder, founding member Shahjahan Molla, Central Executive Council Vice President Hasan Sardar Jewel, Atiqur Rahman Azad, Jamal Hossain, Mizanur Rahman Prince, Khairul Islam, Policy Council Member Mohammad Manjur Hossain, Joint Secretary General Lion Sikder Mohammad Ariful Alam Tito, Assistant Secretary-General Sarkar Jamal Hossain, Organizing Secretary Wahiduzzaman, Mohammad Ismail Hossain Elin, Finance Secretary Abed Ali, Presidium Member Atiqur Rahman, Anarul Haque, Planning Secretary Saiful Islam, Information and Technology Secretary Bappi Ahmed Shraban, Dhaka Division Convener Anisur Rahman Prodhan, Dhaka District Committee Convener Mohsin Uddin, Madaripur District Committee President Faizul Kabir, among others.
Kader Gani Chowdhury said, “The courage to tell the truth is the motto of journalism. The media needs honest, truthful, and unbiased journalism. The reality is that there is a great lack of these in Bangladesh.”
He said, “The defeat of the media means the defeat of the people. And the defeat of the people means the defeat of the state. Therefore, the media cannot be allowed to be defeated.”
“We have to work fearlessly and relentlessly, regardless of anyone's eye-rolling. We have to witness the picture of the prevailing social system. We have to fulfill our responsibility of highlighting the problems of the people. Journalists face many obstacles and dangers. We have to move forward with courage, ignoring the bloodshot eyes of those in power.”
BFUJ Secretary-General said, “Our duty as journalists should be the first priority. What are we doing if we don't do that? We are acting like political cadres. We are playing the role of party slaves. What else is left of our moral commitment? In fact, in journalism, we have to call white white and black black - that is what we have learned. How many people cherish that ideal today? Today, when the people catch journalists (brokers) and hand them over to the police, we cannot show our faces in shame.”
He demanded an end to the torture of journalists and said, “If journalists are forced to resign by sending a group of people, it will send the wrong message to society. If there are criminals among the journalists, they should be tried according to the existing law. We will not accept illegal acts.”
DUJ President Shahidul Islam said, “Journalism is one of the best centers for the practice of knowledge and science and the development of human consciousness in the world and the basis of ethics, responsibility and intelligence. Therefore, newspapers are foremost as a creative media and a respectable profession.”
“The goal and purpose of newspapers is to provide impartial and truthful news. The more neutral the newspapers are and the more fearless and honest the journalists are, the better the country and the nation will be. And that is why journalists are called the vigilant guards or 'gate keepers' of society,” he said.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
