PM Lays Foundation Of 'Tathya Bhaban'

At the ceremony, Prime Minister urged civil society members not to invite any undemocratic force in guise of demanding 'broader democracy'.

"Their demand led to invite another blow on democracy recently. But we could survive it taking our lives at risk," she said many of those civil society members worshipped the military dictators becoming their advisor, taking job or begging pardon.

She said the democratic spirit and intelligence of those civil society members is being transcended more and more when the present government opened up the doors of free thinking and freedom of expression.

Prime Minister said the democracy of Bangladesh suffered blow repeatedly. "Illegal usurpers of power distorted the history of the liberation war joining hands with the collaborators responsible for massacre, looting, rape and arson," she added.

She said a nation can be developed only under the guidance of pro-liberation forces. "But, Bangladesh was ruled 21 years by the anti-liberation forces. They had distorted the country's glorious history of independence. A child learns nothing from the distorted history. But it had happened in Bangladesh," she said.

She urged the officials and employees working in the area of mass-communications to work with more devotion and sincerity to reach the achievements of the government to the people. Side by side, she said it's the duty of the mass-media to make people aware against militancy, terrorism and little-knowledge.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM's Media Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Information Alhaj A K M Rahmatullah attended the function as special guests.

With Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed in the chair the function was also addressed by Director General of DFP Liakat Ali.

Head offices of the Directorate of Film and Publication (DFP), Directorate of Mass Communication and Film Censor Board would be housed in the 16-storied building apart from a modern library, research centre, film projection hall, auditorium and digital information archive.

The prime minister hoped that construction of the Taka 60 crore building on 38.64 kathas of land would be completed as per schedule and the building would be used for welfare of the nation, promotion of rich culture and heritage of Bangladesh as well as centre of delivering information and recreation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasins said her government is actively considering constitution of a separate wage board for the journalists of electronic media. She said the work for framing the national broadcasting commission act is going fast. "Draft of the national film policy has been finalized aimed at flourishing and strengthening the freedom of electronic media," she added.

The prime minister said information technology has opened up door of access to information, side by side, it has chance of distortion or wrong presentation of information. "The utmost duty of the information ministry is to reach useful information to the people and curb flow of that information which is detrimental to the state and society," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government is working with the basic objective of improving the living standard of common people. "So involvement of people with the government activities is very important," she said adding information ministry and the departments under the ministry are entrusted with the task.

She urged the officials and employees of the information ministry to work for making the Tathya Bhaban as the focal point of bridging government with people, developing it as the national information hub. "The building should be well-equipped to help people, mass-media and information personnel getting all facilities," she said.

Pointing out her government's master-plan to establish a national cultural zone across Dhaka University TSC, Suharawardi Uddyan, Ramna, Segunbagicha and adjacent areas the prime minister said the Tathya Bhaban, Shilpakala Academy, Jatiya Nattyashala, Jatiya Chitrashala and international Mother Language Institute all together would enrich our national cultural arena.

Sheikh Hasina said free flow of information is indispensible for shaping a democratic society. Out of that consideration, she said, her government after coming to power in 1996 allowed television channels in the private sector. "So far 32 private television channels were issued licenses, out of them 23 channels now remained in air," she added.

Highlighting the importance of mobile phone in the day-to-day life the prime minister said cell phones are not luxury now at all. Before 1996, monopoly was established in the mobile phone market.

Awami League government broke the domination opening the mobiles sector for many operators, she said adding that people of Bangladesh are now enjoying its benefit and a country of 160 million people is now using more than 120 million SIM.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has formulated Access to Information (A2I) Act in 2009. She said the government has undertaken steps for modernization and make effective all those government institution devoted for delivering information, recreation of the people and flourish the local heritage and culture.

The prime minister also highlighted the programmes taken for digitization of Bangladesh television, Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), National Institute for Mass Communication (NIMCO) and PIB saying a modern film and television institute was established to create efficient manpower for this sector.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has scrapped the oppressive system and set of laws against journalists and media workers to help the media stand on freedom. She said over the last four years 608 journalists were given financial support of over Taka 3.80 crore and a Journalists Welfare Trust has been constituted to develop a permanent support system for them .