The Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Md Hasan Mahmud inaugurated BBC Media Action's project titled ‘Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIMED)’, a public interest journalism project for democracy and development in the capital.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dixon was present as a special guest at the event held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Tuesday afternoon. Al-Mamun, Country Director of BBC Media Action Bangladesh, gave a concluding speech along with a video speech by Caroline Narsi, Chief Executive Officer of BBC Media Action.
The information minister in his speech as the chief guest wished for success of the project and said that the capability of media personnel will be increased under this project. Mentioning the importance of good news, Hasan Mahmud said, “Just as hopeless people cannot dream, a hopeless nation cannot move forward.”
One of the responsibilities of the media is to make people, the nation optimistic, to show the way to the future. Hopefully, besides the shortcomings of the society, the media will also highlight the positive aspects, he added.
British High Commissioner Robert Dixon said the UK Government was pleased to work with Bangladesh's expanding media sector. The PRIMED project will also launch a closer ties between the two countries.
Mobinul Islam Mobin, Editor, Daily Grameen Kagoj, Zulfiqar Russell, Editor, Bangla Tribune, Roxana Anjuman Nicole, Assignment Editor, Jamuna Television and Rezwanul Haque Raja, President of Broadcast Journalist Center and Syed Ishtiaq Reza, Chief Executive Officer of Gazi TV spoke at the time on behalf of the participating companies
BBC Media Action is working with Jamuna Television, Bangla Tribune, Daily Grameen Kagoj and Broadcast Journalist Center on editorial development, training and technical assistance to the media under the Prime, a project funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-FCDO of the United Kingdom.