United News of Bangladesh - Dhaka

GOOD govenance in the South Asian countries is unlikely to be achieved if people's access to information alongside responsible journalism is not ensured by removing both state and non-state hurdles. speakers told an international seminar in Dhaka on Saturday.
     They stressed that journalists, as the practitioners of a most responsible profession, would have to work relentlessly to achieve freedom of the press keeping it in mind that they are working in public interest.
     Singapore-6ascd :Asian Media Information and Communication Centre arranged the seminar in collaboration with United News of Bangladesh, UNESCO and the University of Liberal Arts with the theme “Access to the information and the Empowerment of People' at the Press Institute of Bangladesh.
     With Professor M Harun-or-Rashid of North South University and president of Bangla Academy in the chair, the opening session of the seminar was addressed, among others, by AMIC secretary general Dr Indrajit Banerjee, UNB chairman Amanullah Khan, representative and director, UNESCO. Bangladesh Maama Maleisea and Professor Brian Shoesmith of ULAB.
     Editor of The Daily Star , Mahlfuz Anam and News Today editor Reazuddin Ahmed made the keynote addresses.
Mahfuz Anam said freedom of press is associated with good governance and also economic wellbeing of a country. He lamented that people had created state, but now the state turned out to be `monster'. `Under such a situation, it is the journalists who are to curtail the power of the state and empower the masses - and here lies the importance of free flow of information.’
     He laid emphasis on understanding the ethos of mass people for effective contribution of the journalists to the prosperity of mass people of society.
     He, however, noted that only freedom of press or access to information won't ensure the aspired good governance, rather journalists would have to achieve such qualities and skills to address the socio-economic problems and explore the potential.
     Reazuddin Ahmed in his speech demanded full review of the recent draft of the Right to Information Act of Bangladesh. saying that many clauses will act as barrier to free and timely access to information.
     Professor Rashid said access to information and people's empowerment are deeply interrelated. Access to information is usually denied by the authorities on various excuses, including national security, and often public journalism becomes difficult due to self-censorship of the media-men, he added.
     He observed that unless the journalists are able "to remove their fear from editors and owners, fair journalism would be difficult to do. Amanullah Khan said article 39 (2) of Bangladesh constitution guarantees the right of ever}- citizen to freedom of speech and expression.
     He underscored the need for having respect for the sensitivities. sentiments, customs and culture of each other as a key ingredient of responsible journalism.
     `Tolerance and restraint are essential components of freedom of expression.' lie said.
     Amanullah Khan praised the interim government for its initiatives for formulating the Right to Information Act and separation of the judiciary as the key steps towards achieving the cherished good governance and people's empowerment.
     He recognised that the present interim government has repeatedly described the media as the second parliament in the absence of a functioning parliament.
     UNESCO Journalism Award 2008 on investigative reporting was given at the function. Staff reporter of the Daily Prothom Alo Dewan Hanif Mahbub won the award for his reports on occupation of forestlands at Bhaluka in Mymensingh by landgrabbers.
     The seminar had two plenary sessions and one panel discussion. The first plenary session titled ‘National Security, Barriers and Access to information in South Asia' was addressed by Javed Nazir and Shyam Tekwani of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Kapila Gamage, Community Radio Consultant, Srilanka, with ATM Bangla chief adviser Saiful Bari in the chair.
     Chaired by former adviser to caretaker government and editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam, the second plenary session on Access to information and Empowerment of Communities was addressed by Vinaya Kasajoo of Rural Development Palpa, Nepal, Aniruddha Bahal of Cobrapost.Com, India, Farid Hossain, the bureau chief of Associated Press in Bangladesh, Aasah Mehereen Amin of the Daily Star and global president of the Commonwealth Journalists Association Hasan Shahriar.
     The panel discussion titled 'Can Access to Information by itself Empower People?' was addressed by Dr Kaberi Gayen of Dhaka University mass communication and journalism department. Rajpal Abeynayake of Lakbima News of Srilanka, Samia Zaman, freelance journalist of Bangladesh, Dr Andrew Taussig from International Institute of Communication, the United Kingdom and M Jahangir, executive director of the Centre for Development.