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Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud said BNP turned journalists into 'labourers' by changing the law before leaving power in 2006.
But the same BNP leaders are now 'talking freely' in front of the journalists
The minister made the remarks while addressing a function organized by the Journalist Welfare Trust at Shaheed Sheikh Abu Nasser Banquet Hall of Khulna Press Club on Friday evening.
Khulna Journalists Union President Faruk Ahmed presided over the function.
After 1975, BNP was in power several times, Jatiya Party was also in power but they did nothing for the welfare of journalists.
"Not only that, when the BNP was in power, many journalists were killed and hundreds of journalists were persecuted," he said. On the other hand, AL government has formed a welfare trust for journalists, he reminded.
“Tk 23 lakh was given to 32 journalists and journalist families in Khulna on this day. At the same time, 86 journalists received Tk 10,000 each from the Prime Minister's Covid-19 fund.”
During his speech, the minister mentioned the role of journalists in forming a successful country and society. Other professions cannot play the role that journalists can play to run a state in the right direction.
"I request the journalists to present the real picture of development by our government in front of the people," the minister added.