Information and broadcasting adviser Mahfuj Alam on Monday said that there was no scope to fire a journalist from his job without service any notice.
鈥楾hree journalists have been dismissed and we strongly oppose this action. The government does not support the termination of any journalist without due process. We stand against any action that threatens an individual鈥檚 livelihood,鈥� he said.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar, organised by Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust, at the department of films and publications in Dhaka.
Mahfuz said that Deepto TV authorities did not serve any notice prior to suspending its news transmission. But, in such a manner the transmission was halted it seemed to all that the government shut down the media.
鈥楾his is an act of impetuousness. The government鈥檚 policy is that no outlet will be forcibly closed. But, there will be an investigation to determine whether the media acted in favour of any particular political party,鈥� the adviser continued.
He said that asking question was important to make the government accountable. However, there was a clear distinction between questions and propaganda.
鈥楽ome newspapers still do not write July uprising, instead they write July movement, they do not say the government of the July uprising, they say the government of the change of power. This means that 2000 people were not martyred here,鈥� he noted.
Mentioning that these media outlets were shut down, the adviser said that everything had happened before their eyes. The media was carrying out such a big uprising only in the name of a movement; it was very disappointing and sad.鈥�
He said none was allowed to hurt media outlet till date, and it will not be allowed in the future. The media outlets that were given licenses during the Awami League period would be investigated.
With managing director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Mohammad Abdullah in chair, information and broadcasting secretary Mahbuba Farjana, daily Jaijaidin editor Shafiq Rehman, media reform commission chief Kamal Ahmed, daily Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman, former editor of daily Sangram Abul Asad, acting president of the BFUJ Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, vice-president Khairul Bashar, Prothom Alo executive editor Sajjad Sharif, daily Naya Diganta executive editor Masumur Rahman Khalili, and Shirsho news editor Ekramul Haque also spoke.
DFP director general Khaleda Begum, principal information officer Md Nizamul Kabir, director general-additional duty of national institute of mass communication Md Kawser Ahammed, and director general-current charge of department of mass communication Faizul Haque were present.
