The 36th founding anniversary of Drik Picture Library was observed on Friday with the Golam Kasem Daddy lecture titled 'Media Genocide in Gaza' at DrikPath Bhobon, Panthapath in the capital.

The lecture was delivered by Montaser Marai, Manager of Media Initiatives at Al Jazeera, who is also a Palestinian-Jordanian journalist and documentary filmmaker. Ekushey Padak-winning eminent Photographer and activist Dr Shahidul Alam, Managing Director of Drik, moderated the event.

The programme began with a minute of silence in memory of the thousands killed in the ongoing war in Gaza.

Highlighting the role of media in shaping global narratives, Marai criticised Western media, saying, “Just 5/6 companies control thousands of media outlets in the West. Can you imagine that? All Western media outlets, including CNN and BBC, are reporting on Gaza to implement a different agenda.”

He added, “The news they cover looks like they’re covering a famine. In fact, this is genocide, and you’re doing your job for killers; and this is not journalism."

"All the media are aligned for their foreign policy. They are serving their political, social, and cultural agenda,” Montaser Marai added.

Calling upon news organisations worldwide, Marai said, “We are all equal, but they forced us to be in this position. Just do journalism, before it’s too late.”

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The event was joined by dignitaries including Palestine Ambassador to Bangladesh Yousef Ramadan, eminent writer Hasnat Abdul Hye, daily New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Editor in Chief of Netra News Tasneem Khalil, singer-activist Farzana Wahid Shayan and others.