Bashundhara Group Chairman Calls for Protecting Democracy

Chairman of Bashundhara Group Ahmed Akbar Sobhan has urged the journalists to work for protecting democracy in the country for the sake of economic salvation of the people. Addressing a conference of district correspondents of East-West Media Group Limited in the city on Sunday, he also called upon them to serve through reporting the issues of commoners, especially on oppressed people at every nook and corner of the country. “Journalists should work for building public opinions to protect democracy so that undemocratic forces cannot halt the country’s forward march,” he said. The BG chairman cautioned that the country’s economy would suffer if there is no democracy. East-West Media Group Limited (EWMGL), a concern of Bashundhara Group, organised the annual conference of the correspondents of daily sun, Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin and banglanews24.com. Bureau chiefs, local correspondents, district correspondents, and commercial executives of daily sun, Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin and Banglenews joined the conference held at the Bashundhara Convention Centre two. Emphasising the importance of upholding the truth objectively by media professionals, Ahmad Akbar Sobhan assured journalists that the entrepreneurs of the EWMGL would provide congenial atmosphere for practicing competitive and ethical journalism in this respect. He urged the journalists of the four media houses in particular to speak in favour of the oppressed people in society. “The pen of a journalist is mightier than the sword,” he said. The BG chairman expressed his vision that the newspapers of the EWMGL would soon reach the people living in all villages across the country. EWMGL has decided to award the best teachers from each locality in rural Bangladesh, if possible from among the freedom fighters, the conference was told. EWMGL Chairman Mustafa Kamal Mohiuddin urged all the journalists to work fearlessly with honesty and devotion and thus help the country attain economic emancipation of people. “Journalists working at the grassroots level have enormous contribution to flourishing of this media group within a very short span of time,” he added. Editor of daily sun Professor Dr Syed Anwar Husain regretted that the number of readers of English newspapers in Bangladesh is very negligible in proportion to its population. He pointed out that daily sun practices journalism in a lucid and simple language — something which, he said, would help reach the readers at the schools, colleges and universities. “The readers are already appreciating the daily sun’s standard of journalism and language since easiest English is the best English,” he said. Abed Khan, editor of Kaler Kantho, said these newspapers are not partisan but ‘journalists working here have their opinions in favour of truth and people in society and the spirit of the Liberation War’. EWMGL Adviser Abu Tayeb, banglanews Editor Alamgir Hossain and Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Shahjahan Sardar also spoke on the occasion.