Mass media enjoying full freedom: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that the mass media is enjoying a full freedom in the country.

Highlighting her government's various steps for welfare of the media and journalists, she called upon all concerned to be more responsible in discharging their duties.

"You would enjoy the facilities, but won't perform your responsibility - it's not proper ... everybody has responsibility towards the country and society and that responsibility has to perform," she said.

The prime minister was addressing the foundation laying ceremony of 31-storey Jatiya Press Club (JPC) Bangabandhu Media Complex on the JPC premises.

The foundation laying of the JPC Bangabandhu Media Complex coincided with the 62nd founding anniversary of the club.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Prime Minister's Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, chairman of Editors' Council Golam Sarwar and general secretary of the club Quamrul Islam Chowdhury addressed the function, among others.

JPC President Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman chaired the function, while JPC Vice-President and President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul conducted it.

Ministers, parliament members, political leaders, editors and senior journalists of the print and electronic media and senior government officials were present.

Earlier, celebrated Tagore song singer Rezwana Chowdhury Banya rendered two welcome songs -- Banglar Maati Banglar Jol and Baro Asha Kore Eshichi Go Kaachhe Deke Lao.

The premier said her government since 1996 has been extending support to the journalists, and declared the newspaper industry as a "service sector and enacted 18 acts and rules for the welfare of mass media and journalists.

"We have framed welfare trust act for the journalists and as well as the Information Commission Law and the Right to Information Law," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government after assuming office in 1996 had made open television channels and radio stations in the private sector which created job opportunities and competitiveness in the sector.

"The people and performers involved in the sector are being benefited side by side with the journalists," she said.

With BSS inputs