Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday urged crime reporters to play a responsible and objective role in preventing crime and building a safer society, saying their role is becoming increasingly important as the nature of crime changes with advances in technology.
He came up with the call while speaking as the chief guest at a programme marking the 43rd founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) at Segunbagicha in the capital.
The minister said the government will consider providing assistance, either through government initiatives or corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, to crime reporters who are injured or otherwise affected while performing their professional duties.
He also said the government will examine, subject to legal considerations, whether certificates could be awarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs or the police department to recognise professional excellence and investigative journalism.
Salahuddin said crime reporting is different from many other journalistic beats and is largely a form of investigative journalism that involves risks.
As the nature of crime changes, journalists also need to improve their knowledge of technology and emerging forms of crime, he said.
The minister said crime reporters have a significant role in building a crime-free and secure society, while stressing that responsible and objective journalism is essential alongside modern legal frameworks to prevent and combat technology-driven crimes.
He said the media, police and the Ministry of Home Affairs are interconnected in combating crime and maintaining law and order, and that an organisation like CRAB has an important role in providing information and suggestions in this regard.
Salahuddin said CRAB, with 318 professional members, has established a respected position in investigative journalism over its 43-year journey.
He described investigative journalism as a knowledge-based field requiring extensive study and analysis of information.
Emphasising the need to identify the underlying causes of crime, the minister said crime should not be treated merely as a symptom and that its underlying causes must be addressed.
He identified drugs and gambling as major driving forces behind many serious crimes and said society must be analysed to understand why crimes occur, rather than focusing solely on punishing offenders.
Salahuddin said the government has taken steps to update the legal framework to address emerging crimes, including online gambling and drug-related offences.
Referring to the decline in acid-related crimes, he said strong laws, media attention and social awareness have contributed to reducing such offences and called for similar joint efforts to tackle drugs, online gambling and other crimes.
Describing the media as a mirror of society, the minister said journalists' active and responsible participation, alongside the government and law enforcement agencies, is essential to reducing crime.