In the case of online news portal registration, the online version of the daily newspapers will be given priority, said the Information Minister and the Joint General Secretary of the Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud.
He told reporters after an exchange of views with the leaders of the editorial board in the meeting room of the Information Ministry at noon on Tuesday (September 1). Information Secretary Kamrun Nahar was present at the time.
Matiur Rahman, editor of Dainik Prothom Alo, Naeem Nizam, editor of Dainik Bangladesh Pratidin, Imdadul Haque Milon, editor of Dainik Kaler Kantho, Shyamal Dutta, editor of Dainik Bhorer Kagoj, Enamul Haque Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Sun, Dewan Hanif Mahmud, editor of the daily Banik Barta, acting editor of Dainik Samakal Mustafiz Shafi and Khandoker Muniruzzaman, acting editor of the daily Sangbad, attended the meeting.
Referring to the meeting as part of a regular meeting with the editorial board, the minister said, we always discuss various issues with the press and the media in general. The same has happened today. I sincerely thank the newspapers for continuing their performance during the corona period. Incentives have also been given to journalists during the corona period under the direction of the Prime Minister.
The registration of online version of the dailies was discussed at the time, the information minister said, adding, we are working towards giving immediate registration to the online versions of the dailies because they were investigated during the declaration of the newspaper. We will arrange for the registration of online editions of the dailies on a priority basis.
The minister said the arrears of newspaper bills were also discussed in various ministries. He said bills of hundreds of crores of rupees are stuck in various ministries and departments. It has also been discussed so that the bills are released to various departments as soon as possible. I think these bills need to be paid early. Due to the corona pandemic, newspapers are now in crisis. Since it has to be given, so if it is given now, it will be more useful.
Earlier, all the ministries and departments were asked to pay the newspaper bills and in the light of this, the Ministry of Information also issued a letter of request, some of which were paid. But as the amount of payment was insignificant compared to the arrears, the Ministry of Information will issue another request letter to various ministries and departments, said Dr. Hasan Mahmud.
The joint general secretary of the Awami League said, the big question is how much internal democracy the BNP has. If you look at the size of the BNP Central Committee, then you have to rent a hall to hold a meeting of this committee. I think it is very important to establish internal democracy of BNP.
Dr. Hasan further said, at the same time, I will say that the party of the war criminals who have opposed the independence as a group is the main ally of the BNP and the war criminal, militant group is being sponsored by the BNP. There is democracy in Bangladesh, and if they talk about establishing democracy, then they have to move away from this path.
Naeem Nizam, editor of Bangladesh Pratidin, told reporters at the time that there was no alternative to state cooperation for the advancement of the media. Especially the corona pandemic requires special assistance at this time. Noting that today's discussion has been fruitful, he said, we have been assured of the cooperation of the Information Minister in bringing the online versions of the dailies under registration soon and in paying the arrears of the newspapers.