The government does not want and will not allow any issues to rise which will halt media freedom, said state Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat today (February 7).

He said at a meeting with Editors Guild, Bangladesh leaders at his ministry's conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.

The minister also urged the journalists to advise or criticise the government if there is any mistake in governing the country, saying it always welcomes constructive criticism.

"Awami League will welcome any constructive criticism over the government's error in running the state," he said.

Noting that the mass media in the country is enjoying full freedom and the government is firmly committed to protecting the freedom of the press in future, the state minister said, adding, "If any media makes constructive criticism, we will be able to correct our mistakes and try to do better in future".

Pointing to BNP's call for boycotting the elections, Arafat said but the people said no to them through January 7 general elections giving befitting reply to their atrocities and killing people by setting fire on trains and vehicles.

Editors Guild, Bangladesh President and Editor-in-Chief of Ekattor TV Mozammel Haque (Babu), General Secretary and Editor of The Business Standard Inam Ahmed, Advisor and Editor of the Ajker Patrika Dr Golam Rahman, Presidium Member and Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, Editor of Jugantor Saiful Alam, Editor of Dainik Sangbad Altamash Kabir, Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamal Dutta, Chief Editor of DBC TV Manjurul Islam and Bangladesh Journal Shahjahan Sardar were present at the meeting, among others.

BDST: 2115 HRS, FEB 07, 2024
MSK