Issuing red alert in Bangladesh politically motivated : Inu
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday alleged that issuing a red alert in Bangladesh was politically motivated. The term red alert is now in vogue. We have provided additional security at the airport, not issued a red alert. However, UK did not issue any red alert when UK High Commissioner Anwar was under a bomb threat in Sylhet. Neither was there any red alert during the bomb war led by BNP leader Khaleda Zia. But a red alert has now been issued owing to one or two blasts. There is politics behind it, he said. Hasanul was addressing a seminar on Reporting ethically on and for children for print media organised by Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) at BRAC Inn Centre in the city, with National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman as chairperson. About the broadcast policy, Hasanul said, When the broadcast policy was formulated, many opposed it but how many have been affected? We will formulate broadcast law. If other countries can have broadcast law, why not us! There will be a hue and cry about that too. Defending Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (Amendment) Act 2013, Hasanul said, Many opposed it but how many have been victims of it. Those who have been arrested under the Section have specific charges leveled against them. You cant defend them. According to Section 57 of the ICT (Amendment) Act, 2013, if any person deliberately publishes any material in electronic form that causes deterioration in law and order, prejudices the image of the state or person or hurts religious beliefs, the offender will be punished with maximum 14 years and minimum 7 years imprisonment. Right now, journalists are not getting threats from the government. They are getting threats from militants or the Ansarullah Bangla team, noted Hasanul.
He was quick to add that journalists needed to be more careful and sensible while reporting news, especially that concerning women and children so peoples interests were looked after. He urged that children not be used in political programmes where flowers were showered on political leaders. Earlier, Hasanul unveiled a book on Policy of Journalism on Child Related Issues and said the book would revive ethics in media. Among others, President of Editors Council and Senior Journalist Golam Sarwar; Associate Editor of daily Prothom Alo Abdul Quayum; President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul and Senior Journalist Farid Hossain spoke on the occasion. Criticising the role of BBC and CNN during the war in Iraq and Libya, NHRC Chairman said, There is no reason to follow BBC and CNN. They cannot be our idols. They said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq but now they are saying that was wrong.
We have to make our own policies for journalism from our soil. Golam said, No policy is necessary if journalism has a sense of responsibility. He suggested in-house training for journalists and training for district-level journalists presenting news. Manjurul said that the policies should be media-friendly because journalists thought that their independence would be reined in by such policies. He further said that only good reporting on children was not enough; rather a congenial atmosphere was necessary for children in the society.
