BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said identifying politicians’ mistakes and holding them accountable is one of the key responsibilities of journalists.
He made the remarks as chief guest at a reception for the newly elected executive committee of the Thakurgaon Press Club at the Anisul Haque auditorium on Friday afternoon.
“Journalists must call white ‘white’ and black ‘black.’ The stronger a country’s media, the stronger its democracy,” Mirza Fakhrul said.
He said politicians are not above criticism. “Mistakes can happen when working to meet the expectations of the people. It is the media’s responsibility to highlight those mistakes and ensure accountability. It is worrying that many journalists face attacks and harassment while doing this work,” he said.
Addressing journalists, he added: “Evaluate the work, not the person. While giving credit for good work, you must also fearlessly report irregularities, corruption, and activities that go against the public interest.”
Referring to election promises, Mirza Fakhrul said the government has approved two new upazilas in Thakurgaon and work has already begun. “But beyond building infrastructure, those responsible for running the upazilas must play a responsible role,” he said.
Among those present were District Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Haque, Superintendent of Police Belal Hossain, Thakurgaon district BNP president Mirza Faisal Amin, and Press Club president Lutfor Rahman Mithu.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report