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PM blasts 'section' of media

Bss, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday lamented that a section of the media was spreading "sugar coated" false information and were not ready to follow the basic principles of journalism and democracy.
"They even do not obey the constitution. They are misguiding the people by giving false news and indulging in terrorism and militancy. Their activities will only encourage anti-liberation forces," shesaid.
Hasina was inaugurating the newly constructed eightstoried building of Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in the capital.
The Awami League government laid the building's foundation stone on February 8,2000 and completed the construction costingTk 9.54 crore, she said.
Pointing at the current political situation, she said her government wants to uphold the constitution and urged journalists to support holding a free, fair and neutral election.
Democracy might be endangered if responsible persons
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do the opposite of what they say, she said.
Hasina said the media was now enjoying a level of freedom it experienced never before but misuse of this might be detrimental for the media and the people.
She said currently a section of people were giving "expert opinion" on all issues but they neither have any responsibility nor accountability to the people.
But, the media should make each person accountable for their words and actions, she said.
Terming the media as one of the state's important pillars, Hasina said journalists were the lifeline of the media and their professional excellence was required in the country's interests.
Therefore, both the media owners and journalists should follow the principles of objectivity and accuracy, she said.
They have to go to the depths of any incident and conduct research to find the truth. To provide support, the government strengthened the Press Information Department, she said.
Hasina said online media was now booming while use
of social websites was on the rise but these facilities were also being misused and so social awareness was required.
The criminal code of procedure was amended introducing the provision of issuingsummons against journalists instead of arrest warrants in defamation cases, she said.
She pointed out her government's initiative for constituting the first ever Journalist Assistance Fund along with framinga necessary policy.
Now journalists are getting more financial support than before and are also being given assistance from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, she said.
The eighth pay scale was declared for journalists, raising their salaries and allowances, she said, adding that the national broadcasting policy was now at the final stage after incorporating opinions of all stakeholders.
Blasting the attempts to terrorise journalists, Hasina said some political parties in the name of hartal were attacking them.
Religious fanatics are trying to gag the media while some others are unleashing derogatory remarks which are serious threats to democracy, she said.