Information Minister Urges Transparency, Accountability in Government

Bangla Press Desk:  New Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman Partho on Sunday called on officials of the ministry and its subordinate agencies to work together to ensure transparency and accountability in government activities.

He made the call at an introductory meeting held at the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at the Secretariat on his first day in office.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana chaired the meeting. State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed also spoke at the meeting.

The minister said the media is one of the key pillars of democracy and stressed the need to create an environment conducive to independent and open journalism.

“For the past 17 years, our main struggle was to restore democracy in the country. One of our key goals is to move away from the culture of control over the media during the previous government and ensure an environment for independent and free journalism,” he said.

Referring to the July movement, Barrister Andaleeve said there was no scope to underestimate the contribution of the media and journalists.

He said people have the right to know and it is the government’s moral responsibility to accurately present its activities and decisions before the public.

Expressing confidence in the experience and skills of ministry officials, the minister urged them to work collectively in the national interest.

“You have much more experience than I do in administrative affairs. We will work together in the national interest and to provide people with accurate information so that none of our decisions causes injustice or unfair treatment to anyone,” he said.

The minister also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the functioning of the ministry and its subordinate departments and agencies.

Officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and heads of its subordinate departments and agencies attended the meeting.