bdnews24.com
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday called on the mass media to be more ‘responsible’ even as it enjoyed its professional freedom.
The Prime Minister was inaugurating the programme marking four decades of state owned Bangladesh Television (BTV).
At the inaugural speech, the Prime Minister stressed on improving the quality of programmes offered on BTV so that it could compete effectively with other private channels and gain greater acceptability within the country and outside.
She suggested that issues pertaining to ‘social reform’ should be taken up to fulfil the expectation of the people.
Bangladesh Television went on air on Dec 25, 1964 at the erstwhile DIT building, currently known as Rajuk Bhaban. The state-owned channel had the capacity only to telecast programme within 10 miles of the office, and the programme used to last for only three hours.
The office of the TV channel was shifted to the current Rampura address on Feb 9, 1975 and officially inaugurated on Mar 6, 1975.
Today the Prime minister delivered her speech through video conference from her Gonobhaban residence marking a four-decade of journey of the BTV.
“Print and electronic media have responsibilities. They have to act responsibly for the sake of the state and the nation,” said Hasina.
She claimed the media organisations were enjoying full independence under her government.
“Independence calls for a sense of responsibility. We must not forget the point.”
Hasina claimed credit for allowing for private television channels for the first time during the Awami League’s previous regime (1996-2001)
“Everybody has the right to information. We permitted private television channles considering this .We also had in mind that it will create opportunity for work for artistes.”
She said BTV should prioritize educational programmes besides its normal share of entertainment.
BTV Director General M Hamid was also present with the PM at Gonobhaban when she delivered herspeech..
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