State Minister for Information and Broadcast Mohammad Ali Arafat on Monday said that he will work with utmost sincerity to ensure transparency and professionalism in every sector under his jurisdiction.
"I can say, in every sector under my jurisdiction where I have a scope to work, I will try to bring transparency and professionalism there at a certain stage," he said at a meeting with Jatiya Press Club (JPC) leaders at his ministry's conference room in Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka.
At the onset of the meeting, JPC leaders led by its President Farida Yasmin greeted the state minister with a bouquet. The state minister said that he has already given instructions to authorities concerned regarding his reluctance to get involved in all decision-making processes to let them work independently.
"If any committee is formed with transparency having representation from all stakeholders and the decisions are taken on the basis of transparency, then why will I, as the head of ministry, have to interfere there?" Arafat continued.
Noting that there is another reason behind his unwillingness to get involved in all the decision-making-process, he said, "The ministry has two types of works- strategic and administrative. Therefore, if I remain engaged all time in administrative activities, when will I think about the strategic issues?"
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The state minister said, "I think some time should be reserved for brainstorming about political matters as thinking is also a work. If I always remain involved in every committee, every task, every decision, it will not be easy for me to find solutions in basic areas."
As all agreed on certain issues like ensuring full freedom of the press and fighting against disinformation, he said, adding, preventing disinformation is equally important, like ensuring full freedom of the press.
Putting emphasis on finding ways to suppress the menace (rumour), Arafat sought cooperation from all in this regard.
At the meeting, JPC leaders placed some proposals, including jointly working with ministry to fight against disinformation, changing the name of metro rail station and renaming the station after the JPC and making the accreditation cards digital so that the journalists can use the secretariat gate adjacent to the press club.
Regarding the proposals, the state minister said he will give his best efforts to implement the proposals.
"We cannot make everyone happy with any decision. I will try to take the right decision keeping everything in balance. At the end of the day, decisions should be taken to safeguard the greater interest," Arafat said.
JPC Vice President Rejoanul Haq Raja, joint secretaries - Ayub Bhuiyan and Md Ashraf Ali, Treasurer Shahed Chowdhury, Managing Committee members - Kalyan Saha, Mohammad Momin Hossain, Zulhas Alam, Farid Hossain and Shahnaj Siddiqui Soma were present at the meeting.