Professionalism both among journalists and owners can play a key role in promoting press freedom in a young democracy like Bangladesh, said speakers at a discussion yesterday.

They said money should not be the only criterion to get permission to launch a media organisation. The authorities, they said, should check how far an applicant for a TV station or any other media organisation is committed to the profession of journalism and free flow of information.

Commonwealth Journalists Association, Bangladesh (CJA,B) in collaboration with Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) organised the event at Dhaka Club to mark the World Press Freedom Day.

Presided over by CJA,B President Farid Hossain, the discussion was addressed by former Information Minister Dr Mizanur Rahman Shelly, former chief information commissioner Muhammad Zamir, CJA president emeritus Hassan Shahriar, Secretary General of BFHJ Abdul Jalil Bhuyian, MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman Mukur and senior journalists Chapal Bashar, Nadim Quadir, Saiful Huda, Mainul Alam, Julhas Alam and Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury.

CJA,B secretary general and editor of Bhorer Kagaj Shymol Dutta moderated the discussion.