Quader bemoans devisive politics, journalism

Walls are being built instead of bridges in politics and in journalism in the country, Road, Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader remarked as a programme's chief guest at Chittagong Press Club yesterday.

"We are building the Padma bridge but we have not been able to build political bridges...Divisive journalism is like divisive politics. Today you will see hybrid politics...for which real people are cornered. I am seeing an increase of hybrids in journalism," he said.

"Neither politics nor journalism nowadays requires education...and for this the standard is decreasing," he told the Chittagong Union of Journalists' biannual general meeting.

He said journalism without mass communication was as dangerous as politics without any links with people, but expressed hope, saying some youths were taking up journalism after attaining a "good" education.

He said the Dhaka-Chittagong elevated expressway's construction would begin in 2018 and cost Tk 70,000 crore and the Karnaphuli tunnel project within a few days after a loan agreement was signed with China Exim Bank.