United News of Bangladesh

Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday urged the media to continue scrutinising the government and highlighting its shortcomings while also allowing it sufficient time to deliver. “The government must always be kept under watch. If it makes mistakes, those should be pointed out. But at the same time, the government must also be given time,” he said while addressing as the chief guest a seminar titled “Role of Media in Sustainable Democracy”, organised by the Television Editors’ Council at a city hotel. Fakhrul said the media's role should not be limited to exposing government failures but also reflect its achievements. Referring to television talk shows, he said some programmes are being framed around the “government’s four months of failure,” creating an impression that the administration has completely failed, while little attention is being paid to what it has accomplished. “This one-sided approach by the media is not appropriate,” he said. Highlighting the importance of media freedom and responsibility, the BNP leader said a strong and independent media is essential for sustaining democracy. He stressed the need to strengthen media institutions and build a healthy relationship between owners and journalists. “If the media can work independently and without conditions, democracy will also become stronger. But for that, it is not enough to depend only on the government. Media institutions themselves must also become stronger,” Fakhrul said. He also expressed concern over the growing influence of social media, saying it has become “even more dangerous.” “A small post or a short reel can destroy a person’s lifetime achievements within moments,” the BNP secretary general said, noting that countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia and France have imposed restrictions on children's access to social media because of its harmful effects. He said it is unrealistic to expect the government to solve every problem within a short period, as the country is currently passing through a transitional phase. “This is not only true for Bangladesh but for many countries in Asia,” he said. Calling for patience and tolerance, Fakhrul said, “We must not become impatient. We have to remain patient and tolerant. Otherwise, democracy can never move forward.” He urged the government, media organisations and media owners alike to exercise patience and tolerance, expressing hope that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh will move towards a sustainable democratic system. “If everyone works with patience alongside Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh can be taken to a stage where democracy stands on a sustainable foundation,” he said. The minister said whenever the BNP assumed office, it inherited a “ruined system.” Referring to the energy sector, he rejected suggestions that the current gas crisis has been created by the BNP government. “Has BNP created the gas crisis? The previous government did not carry out a single exploration scheme. Instead, it built a system dependent on imports,” he said. Fakhrul alleged that the previous government also created major problems in the power sector through quick rental power projects. “The banking sector has also been left in ruins. Restoring it has become a major challenge for the present government,” he said.