Secretary General of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Quader Gani Chowdhury on Sunday said combating lies is one of the biggest challenges for journalists and urged them to remain honest, courageous and dedicated to objective reporting.

Speaking at a discussion titled ‘The Role of Media in Building a New Bangladesh after July 24’ at Gazipur Press Club, Gani said the media acts as society’s mirror, while journalists serve as its watchdogs.

“Journalists must reflect the truth, expose injustices and raise their voices against corruption, killings, abductions, child abuse, rape and human rights violations,” he added.

He stressed that integrity, impartiality and professionalism are the pillars of journalism. “Journalists should stand above partisanship, presenting facts with neutrality and objectivity. A journalist’s duty is to call white ‘white’ and black ‘black,’” he said.

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Gani cited former US President Thomas Jefferson: “If given a choice between a government without newspapers and newspapers without a government, Jefferson preferred the latter.”

The event, chaired by Gazipur Press Club president Khandaker Golam Sarwar and conducted by journalist Mazharul Islam Masum, was attended, among others, by  Gazipur City Corporation CEO Muhammad Sohel Hasan, Zila Parishad CEO Khandaker Mudassir Bin Ali, and senior journalists including Delwar Hossain, Sharif Ahmed Shamim and Shah Shamsul Haque Ripon.