PM assures press freedom at first meet with NOAB

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday reiterated his government’s firm stance on press freedom.

He made the remark at a meeting with members of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at the Public Administration meeting room of the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said the prime minister’s additional press secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, according to a BSS report.

Tarique, also chairman of the ruling BNP, said he regularly reads newspapers and watches television, takes updates on issues reflected in the media, and gives necessary instructions accordingly.

Ruman said the premier listened to NOAB members patiently and said that such view-exchange meetings between the government and newspaper owners would be arranged regularly at three-month intervals.

The meeting began at 2:20pm and lasted an hour and 10 minutes, after which the prime minister joined a luncheon with NOAB members.

He then took part in a photo session with them.

This was his first formal meeting with the association since the formation of the BNP government.

At the onset of the meeting, the additional press secretary said, the association’s president and Manab Zamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury spoke about the existing problems in the newspaper industry and sought the prime minister’s support in resolving them.

Meanwhile, NOAB members congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on forming the government with a landslide victory in the 13th National Parliament elections.

They mentioned that during the BNP government in 2001, newspapers were declared an industry, but said it has now turned into “a sick industry”.

Noting that huge government advertisement bills accumulated during previous governments remain unpaid, association leaders sought the PM’s support in clearing the dues, the BSS report said.

NOAB members also drew the prime minister’s attention to withdrawing cases filed against journalists during the previous interim regime and sought his support regarding bail of arrested journalists.

According to a UNB report, NOAB President Matiur said the prime minister made it clear that he does not want to make any journalist or media outlet hostile.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “We talked about press freedom…. He [Tarique] said he does not want to make anyone hostile. This is a very good thing as no head of state or head of government has said this before.”

The veteran editor said the media industry is under serious pressure, particularly due to economic strain, raising concerns about its sustainability.

“We shared our concerns with the prime minister. He listened to us carefully. We also told him that he is a man of this industry, as you know he was associated with a newspaper [Dainik Dinkal] for a long time. So, he understands the challenges. He listened to us and spoke to us with sincerity.”

Matiur added that Tarique agreed in principle to many of their demands, although some steps may take time to implement.

According to BSS, those at the meeting included NOAB Vice President and Chairman of the New Age editorial board ASM Shahidullah Khan; Treasurer and Publisher of daily Sangbad Altamash Kabir; and Executive Members, AK Azad, publisher of Samakal; Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of Prothom Alo; Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star; AMM Bahauddin, editor of Inqilab; Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of Bonik Barta; Mozammel Haque, editor of Karatoa; Dr Ramiz Uddin Chowdhury, editor of Purbokone; and Nasim Manzur, publisher of Financial Express.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister Yeaser Khan Choudhury, and the prime minister’s adviser on information and broadcasting Dr Zahed Ur Rahman were also present.