Democracy must for press freedom
Satkhira discussion told
Speakers at a discussion held here yesterday said press freedom cannot be ensured in any country where democracy is absent.
Mass-line Media Centre (MMC), Shushilon and Progoti jointly organised the discussion at Satkhira Bar Association auditorium to mark the World Press Freedom Day. Progoti director Principal Ashek-e-Elahi chaired the occasion.
Democratic environment is an imperative to press freedom in any country, speakers said. Mere law is not enough, rather the mindset of people to hide information should be changed to ensure press freedom and right to information, they said.
Speakers alleged that the draft of proposed right to information act was aimed at protecting rights of bureaucrats who always refuse to give information to journalists. They demanded the proposed act should be enacted taking opinion of journalists as they play a vital role in conveying information to people.
They said that ensuring right to information is a pre-condition to empowerment of people and good governance.
Among others, Principal Asit Kumar Majumdar, Principal Sheikh Abdul Wadood, district information officer Nurul Huda, vice-principal Abdul Hamid, district Bar association president Advocate Shah Alam, Mostafa Nuruzzaman, human right activist Prof Pabitra Mohon Das, journalists Subhas Chowdhury, Kalyan Banerjee, Mizanur Rahman, Abul Kalam Azad, Kamruzzaman and Sharifullah Sumon addressed.
Shishu Prakash, an organisation of child journalists also celebrated the day through chalking out three-day programmes.
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