The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Adviser for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Information Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday alleged that a vested quarter had been hatching conspiracy to create chaos and anarchy in the country with a view to bring back the state before the 1/11 by destabilising the market.

But the nation does not want to make it happen again, he said while inaugurating a seminar on Freedom of Press and People’s Right to Information at the conference room of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in the city.

The Information Adviser said the freedom of press is a very responsible right and it has a strong link with the democracy and for this it is unrealistic to think that the freedom of press will be ensured where the democracy is not secure.

He said the freedom of press and the democracy should be uttered in one single breath.

The Adviser assured that the present government would make the law for right to information. “The law, which was not enacted even in 36 years, has been prepared and we will make it,” he said.

Barrister Mainul Hosein said the prices of rice started falling since the imported rice had been supplied to the market despite problems in the international markets.

The Adviser said the present caretaker government is trying to lead the people towards a beautiful future and the cooperation of the mass media is essential for this purpose.

“A responsible newspaper can work with a good government as a partner,” he said, adding that any- one can become the owner of a newspaper but the editor of a newspaper must be from journalists.

He advised journalists not to report whatever they see and think but write with responsibility considering the public interest and the prevailing circumstance.

Acting Information Secretary Jamil Osman, who presided over the seminar, said the prime task of the newspapers should be disseminated with objectivity.

He said the government ensured the freedom of press though there is a state of emergency in the country as the government wants to hold a free and fair election.

Director General of the PIB Md Nazrul Islam delivered the welcome address while PIB's senior trainer Oliur Rahman presented the keynote paper. Among others, the seminar was also addressed, by Dr Shakhawat Ali Khan, Prof Kazi Abdul Mannan, Dr Golam Rahman, Jatiya Press Club President Showkat Mahmud, AP Bureau Chief Farid Hossain and New Age City Editor Saiful Huda.