RANGPUR, May 03, 20219 (BSS) – A seminar on ‘Freedom of Press and Safety of Journalists’ was held today at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) marking the World Press Freedom Day- 2019.
The Public Relations, Information and Publication Division of the
university organised the seminar at Management Gallery on the campus.
Vice-chancellor of BRUR Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah launched
the seminar by addressing over cell phone from Dhaka as the chief guest.
Former Media and Information Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister and
celebrated journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury participated as the Keynote
Discussant.
Administrator of the university’s Public Relations, Information and
Publication Division Professor Dr Sarifa Salowa Dina presided over the
seminar.
The teachers and students of the Department of Mass Communication and
Journalism (DMCJ) of the university, local journalists and BRUR
correspondents of different media participated.
Associate Professor of the DMCJ Dr Md Nazrul Islam presented essay
titled “Freedom of Press and Safety of Journalists” in the seminar.
Senior journalists Khairul Alam and Md Mamun Islam, General Secretary of
Press Club, Rangpur Rashid Babu and President of BRUR unit of Bangladesh
Chhatra League Abu Monnaf Al Tushar Kibria participated in the discussion.
Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said democracy would not get protection without
independent journalism.
“To establish a democratic state, the freedom of press must be ensured,”
he said.
He said journalists cannot do independent journalism due to lack of
rights at their workplaces or absence of security.
“Journalism is a risky profession. None can be brought here forcibly. In
fact, we have to do journalism accepting various types of risks in the
profession,” he said.
Describing dignity of the profession on the basis of ethics, values and
morality in journalistic, he said, journalists say in favour of people,
highlight independence of the country and social values.
“As the fourth pillar, if the media becomes weak, then the state will
weaken. Therefore, to keep the country strong, like the remaining three
pillars of the state, the mass media also have to perform duties properly,”
Chowdhury said.
The Vice-chancellor said, “Journalists are the conscience of the nation.
It is very urgent to ensure their security.”
Earlier, Chowdhury led a rally brought out by the Public Relations,
Information and Publication Division of the university on the campus.