No room for corruption, nepotism in info ministry: Nahid

Adviser for Information and Broadcasting Md Nahid Islam today (18 August) said there will be no room for corruption and nepotism in his ministry.

“We are trying to build a corruption-free Bangladesh. We will work together for the people of Bangladesh to attain this goal. We will utilise the opportunity that we got [through revolution],” he said
 at a view-exchange meeting with chiefs of offices affiliated to his ministry at the secretariat this morning.

At the beginning of the meeting, one-minute silence was observed commemorating the martyred students, people from different ages and journalists.

About the ouster of the Awami League government through a bloody student-people uprising, the information adviser said, “We got a new Bangladesh through another bloody struggle. The young generation is dreaming anew, creating new aspirations. We joined this government to reflect those aspirations”.

Nahid, also posts, telecommunications and information technology adviser, urged the heads of the offices under his ministry to remain watchful so that autocracy cannot arise again in the process of rebuilding the country with new hopes and aspirations.

About interference in journalism, Nahid said, “We witnessed what kind of brazen interference was imposed on the freedom of the press, mass media and the freedom of expression in Bangladesh. We do not want such incidents to happen in Bangladesh in the future.”

Noting that it is impossible to ensure the freedom of speech without ensuring the freedom of the press, he said, “We must work to ensure freedom of the press.”

He emphasised reviewing the controversial laws and regulations to ensure complete freedom of speech.

The adviser assured of standing by the journalists who were killed and received injuries during the anti-discrimination movement waged by students and mass people.

About salary structure of journalists, he said the salaries of reporters at junior level are very low while in many cases the salary structure is not followed by the media outlets.

“So, there is the need for a policy regarding the salary structure. If we cannot encourage talented people in journalism, it will not progress,” he added.

About the offices under the ministry, the information and broadcasting adviser said, steps will be taken to make the offices dynamic and modernised within the quickest possible time.

Besides, censor board committees will be reformed soon, he added.

About film industry, Nahid said the aspirations of the younger generation should be reflected in the films and the films under screening in the censor board should be released soon, if these did not breach the rules and regulations, without indulging in nepotism or considering personal identity.

About the killing of journalist couple Sagar-Runi, he said the country’s people know what kind of farce was made regarding this murder.

“We will do everything possible from the government and the ministry to investigate every incident of killing and torturing journalists and the perpetrators will be brought to book,” the information adviser said.

Replying to a question over the protection of journalists in their professional works, he said, the government is mulling to form an independent mass media commission. Steps will be taken after discussing with the journalists to this end, he added.

Nahid put emphasise on reviewing the Cyber Security Act.

Senior Secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker and other senior officials of the ministry along with journalists were present at the meeting.