Online Desk : Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said mass media in Bangladesh enjoy the optimum freedom and a vast revolution has taken place in this sector in the last 12 and a half years.

“Mass media are enjoying more freedom in Bangladesh than in many other countries across the globe and the country (Bangladesh) is a role model before many developing nations,” he said while uncovering the book ‘Anashwar Bangabandhu’ virtually from his official residence in city’s Minto Road.

Press Information Department (PID) compiled the book marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hasan, Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Principal Information Officer Surath Kumar Sarker and officials of PID took part in the function.

Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said different organizations time to time make statements over mass media and human rights issues which do not match with reality.

“There are some organizations in the world which sell statements. Recently, we have witnessed that some organizations are making statements on the perspective of Bangladesh. Those are not real statements or reports. In fact, they are making and selling the statements as per the persuasion of special quarters, in special contexts and with special purposes,” he said.

The minister said selling or publishing a statement in the name of a human rights organization is not conducive to the promotion of human rights but goes against the protection of it (human rights).

He said the mass media in Bangladesh are enjoying more freedom than in many developing countries across the globe. “The publication of 167-year old newspaper ‘News of the World’ was shut down for publishing wrong information in the United Kingdom. The executive officers of the BBC were forced to resign for broadcasting wrong information about a representative of the House of Commons. But, there is no such instance in Bangladesh,” he said.

Hasan extended thanks to PID for publishing the book and said it (book) would help the new generation know Bangabandhu and the history of Bangladesh.

Murad, in his speech, said all should know Bangabandhu if they want to know the identity of Bangalee nationalism.

Mokbul said Bangabandhu is the dreamer of the Bangalee nation. BSS