Staff Reporter: Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh have more freedom of speech. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has opened up media saying that she is media friendly. As a result, journalists are getting the opportunity to work independently in the country today. When she first came to power in 1996, there was only one government television channel in the country, and now there are 43 private television channels in the country. This has been possible due to the liberal attitude of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina towards the media. He was spoked at the inaugural and introductory meeting of the newly elected officials committee of the America-Bangladesh Press Club (ABPC) at Gulshan Terrace in Woodside, New York on Sunday evening (February 27), local time.
Foreign Minister said that about five hundred and fifty newspapers are published in the country every day. Thousands of people are working in the media. They are the consciousness of the nation, the guide of the nation. Sometimes some media outlets are involved in propaganda of the country. You must serve objective news. If you serve objective news then you will make a big contribution for your nation and nation will surely respect you. And if you are involved in propaganda, you will be deprived of the respect that we hope to give.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen further said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tireless efforts to build Bangladesh as a golden Bangladesh have been implemented today. The tide of development is flowing in the urban port villages. You will see it when you go to your country. Even in Corona, the growth rate has taken everyone by surprise. These myths are not real.
Therefore, the request to the expatriate journalists is to present the present Bangladesh properly. Bring the expatriate generation to Bangladesh full of Bengali language and culture as well as natural beauty. However, do not broadcast pictures of such dead people on television. He noted that no such images were shown on US television channels. It has become possible today because Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to develop the country. Because there is a way if there is a will.
He said that with the presence of Sheikh Hasina, democracy in Bangladesh has gradually become a strong institution. The election is being held smoothly as Sheikh Hasina is present. Foreign Minister said that a ceremony would be held in Washington DC on April 4 to mark the golden jubilee of the deepening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the United States. I’ll be there too. This is how we are in two countries.
I will celebrate the relationship between them and think of moving forward in a wider range in the days ahead. Foreign Minister hoped that the media personnel would present the story of Bangladesh’s progress in order to stop the anti-Bangladesh propaganda in this exile.
Newly elected officials of the new committee of America-Bangladesh Press Club (ABPC) were greeted with red roses at the event, which was chaired by Rashed Ahmed, newly elected president of America-Bangladesh Press Club (ABPC) and jointly conducted by Sadia Khandaker and Shah Faruk Rahman, joint general secretary of ABPC Is anointed. ABPC President Rashed Ahmed, General Secretary Mohammad Abul Kashem, Vice President Journalist Tapan Chowdhury, Joint General Secretary Shah Faruk Rahman, Organizing Secretary Azimuddin Avi, Publicity Secretary Shahidullah Kaiser, Executive Members Lablu Ansar, Kanu Dutta and Alim Khan Akash. Vice-President Subrata Chowdhury, Finance Secretary-Zaman Tapan and Executive Member Rajub Bhowmik could not attend the function due to personal reasons.
Acting Permanent Representative and Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Nations Monwar Hossain said Bangabandhu loved the media. He also collaborated with newspapers and newspaper owners in many ways. How is it possible for him to get the news of the journalists before he gets the news of his wife and children after returning to the country from abroad.
Consul General of Bangladesh Consulate in New York Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam said, I have just joined the Bangladesh Consulate in New York. Not all journalists have had a chance to get acquainted yet. If you have any work related to consulate, come directly to the office and see our activities. I and everyone in my office will be at your service.
Mohammad Abul Kashem, General Secretary of America-Bangladesh Press Club said in his congratulatory speech that journalism is termed as ‘Fourth State’ all over the world. Newspapers are the mirror of the state. And journalists are the conscience of the nation. Journalism is called the prose of construction or destruction. It is not unclear to any intelligent, conscious and conscientious person how much journalism plays a role in creating or destroying the thinking style of the nation and its latent mentality. Honest journalists are the last hope of the country and the nation. Newspapers and journalists are the awakened conscience of the nation and its readers are its lifeblood. Therefore, my heartfelt request to the journalist friends is to get a place in the hearts of the people by writing objectively on various important issues including economic, social and cultural development of the country and the diaspora without compromising this noble profession for their own petty interests.
Lablu Ansar, former president and current executive member of America-Bangladesh Press Club, has demanded purchase of land for Bangladesh Bhaban in New York. On the 21st of February, you will be able to have a Probhat ferry in the comfort of your home. He hoped that the chief guest of today’s event would take initiative in this regard.
President Rashed Ahmed, General Secretary Mohammad Abul Kashem, Executive Member Lablu Ansar, Deputy Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Monwar Hossain, Press Minister AZM Sajjad Hossain on behalf of the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Washington DC, Consulate General of the Consulate. Mohammad Monirul Islam, Ekushey Medal winning artist and vocalist Rathindranath Roy, Channel I director Zahir Uddin Mamun, heroic freedom fighter Golam Mostafa Khan Miraj, ABPC Election Commissioner Poppy Chowdhury, Democratic Leader Attorney Moin Chowdhury, Pennsylvania Melbourne mayor Mahbubul Alam Taiyob, Councilor Mosharraf Hossain, Poet Fakir Elias, General Secretary of Bangabandhu Foundation in the United States Abdul Quader Mia, General Secretary of JBBA Community Board Member Fahad Solaiman and JBBA Leader Mahbubur Rahman Tuku among others spoke at the inauguration ceremony of America-Bangladesh Press Club.
At the beginning of the meeting, the national anthems of Bangladesh and the United States were performed with a minute of silence in honor of the martyrs killed in the great war of independence.
Artists and vocalists of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra Rathindranath Roy and Shahid Hasan, Shah Mahbub, Tanima Hadi and Sabita Das performed music in the second part of the program. Also local artists perform dances. In the middle of the ceremony, the newly elected officials of the Press Club were warmly greeted by BAFA, an organization of Bangladeshi police members working in New York City. The guests were greeted with red roses by little Amira Farha Shimin, Alvi Khan, Sneha Khan and Alisha Khan.
BP/SM
