By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka, Bangladesh : President Zillur Rahman today said Bangladesh always encourage freedom of speech and media as it is a democratic country.
“Presently mass media in Bangladesh are enjoying full freedom,” he said while a four-member delegation of International Press Institute (IPI) press freedom mission headed by David Dadge called on him at the Bangabhaban.
Other members of the delegation are Anthony Mills, Trine QSTLYNGEN and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul.
During the meeting, the President said the Present government of Bangladesh has enacted the Right to Information Act-2009 recently which would ensure the access to information for the general mass and media people.
“The Act would help ensuring transparency and accountability in all sectors,” the President observed. President Zillur Rahman said the present government is always aware of preserving the rights of media people and as a result no incident of killing or harassment of journalists took place during its tenure.
Mentioning that most of the media people in Bangladesh are well educated, courageous and dedicated to the profession, the President observed that high level training can make them more effective and efficient.
“I hope the IPI would expand opportunities of better training for our media people,” Zillur Rahman said.
The President informed the delegation that now-a-days many women are involving themselves in journalism profession and they are performing well with their dedication and courage.
President Zillur observed that the IPI and media development organizations in Bangladesh like National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC), Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) and Jatiya Press Club could work together through exchanging of delegations and holding of joint meetings, seminars, symposia and workshops for building skilled media personalities in the country.
The President expressed his gratitude to the IPI for their interest and effort in monitoring the general polls for the 9th parliament last year.
The delegation, based in Vienna, Austria, expressed their satisfaction as full form of press freedom is prevailing in the country at present.
The delegation also highly appreciated the ongoing efforts of the present government for the development of Bangladesh.
Describing his experience of monitoring the last general polls in the country, David Dadge said the election was held in a very free, fair and credible manner.
The delegation also apprised the President that they would criticize the role of some countries, those gave shelter to the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members.
Concerned secretaries of the President’s ofice were also present during the meeting.