United News of Bangladesh

There is no alternative to ensuring financial security and protection of journalists in order to achieve media freedom, speakers said at a panel discussion jointly organised by UNESCO Dhaka Office, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and the Embassy of Sweden on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2025. It is impossible to realize the expectations of a free media without ensuring salaries and allowances commensurate with the standard of living of journalists at the national and local levels, and an environment of pressure-free and fear-free journalism, they added. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam was present as the chief guest at the event titled “Brave New Bangladesh: Reform Roadmap for Press Freedom,” while Chief of the Media Reform Commission Kamal Ahmed spoke as the keynote speaker. The event was also attended by the ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks, and the head of UNESCO Office in Dhaka Dr. Susan Vize. The panel discussion was attended by Rezwanul Haque Raja, Chairman of the Broadcast Journalist Center, Sheikh Sabiha Alam, Bureau Chief of AFP, and AK Azad, Managing Director of Times Media Limited. Executive Director of TIB Iftekharuzzaman moderated the discussion. Adviser Mahfuj Alam said accountability is essential for protecting the interests of journalists. Journalists should have the opportunity to ask questions, he said, adding that journalists can also face questions. "Members of parliament can be asked, officials of the judiciary can be asked, intelligence agencies can be asked, but journalists cannot be asked—I don't want this to happen." Mahfuj  said, "Those who are policymakers in the media, from where their news or opinions are generated, should definitely have the opportunity to ask questions." Regarding cases against journalists, he said, "Many centers of power have been created and case business is still ongoing. It will continue until reforms are ensured." "So, everyone must work to ensure the implementation of reforms quickly. I think no freedom is unconditional. Journalists must also be accountable to the public," he added. Iftekharuzzaman, the executive director of TIB, said that the media's duty is to present unbiased, independent journalism in the public interest. Ensuring that journalists or the media are not harassed in the name of accountability is essential for this unbiased and independent journalism. Ambassador Nicolas Weeks said, “Freedom of the media does not only mean freedom of expression, but also equality within the media. Only 10% of journalists in Bangladesh are women, and positive change is necessary in this regard. The newsroom must be prepared as a place where women can work comfortably, he added.

With rising inflation driving up the cost of everyday necessities, managing regular expenses can feel overwhelming, let alone saving for the future. Yet, building a financial safety net is more crucial than ever. In 2025, saving money demands a smarter approach—streamlining expenses, boosting income, and maximizing financial efficiency. Discover actionable strategies to safeguard your finances and thrive in the face of economic challenges. Smart Money Strategies for 2025 Here are some practical steps to help you save more in the coming year. Set Attainable Financial Goals Make sure your financial resolutions don't fade away after the initial months of the new year. Setting smart goals can keep your financial resolutions fresh, strong, and versatile throughout the year. Defining short-term savings targets can help you to build an emergency fund. On the other hand, long-term savings targets can energize you to run the race for fulfilling your big dreams like buying an apartment, studying abroad, or making a retirement fund. Read more: How to Improve Focus by Training the ‘Attention Muscle’ Instead of burdening yourself with strict frugal behavior, it would be wise to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound financial objectives to save money. Review Expenditure Generally, not all products or services you pay for are essential, some are less necessary, and few are luxury. Tracking your spending behaviour is an effective trick to set realistic saving targets. Don’t do calculations in your head. Write down the costs on paper. Utilizing a smart financial app or personal finance spreadsheets, one can easily identify one’s spending patterns. Control Expenses After reviewing your spending behaviour, you can easily understand where to retrench. For instance, saving money doesn’t mean you have to eat less and suffer from malnutrition; rather, it means cut costs on dinners outside that can be replaced by homemade meals. Read more: Shiny Object Syndrome in Business, Career: Symptoms, Effects, Prevention In the same way, you can be thrifty about your wardrobe. For example, caring for winter clothes can save your money from buying new shawls and sweaters every year. Nowadays, people tend to spend on digital products every month. However, cancelling unnecessary subscriptions reduces your expenses. Services you don’t use regularly should also be considered for discontinuation to save money. While shopping for groceries, try to shop for a month instead of a week, it can let you enjoy some discounts and cashback. Compare prices to find a nearby grocery shop, super shop, or market where you can find goods and products at reasonable prices. Growing vegetables on the rooftop or your balcony can also save you some money on groceries. What’s more, don’t forget to negotiate for lower rates on products and services. Read more: Top 10 Wallet Apps to Organize Finances Make A Budget Without a fixed weekly or monthly budget, it is hard to control costs in diverse sectors like grocery, clothing, travel, etc. Those who have spouses, children, elderly family members, or dependents need to consider all kinds of expenses while preparing the budget. While creating a budget for a month or week, you can implement the 50/30/20 rule which means allocate 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment. Grow Your Earnings Savings can be easier if you can boost your income. To increase earnings, service holders can look for additional income sources such as freelancing, tutoring, online business, etc.  Besides, you can learn new skills for better career opportunities or promotions. Nowadays, diverse international platforms and reputed universities are offering free and paid online courses. Read more: Using the 37 Percent Rule to Make Better Decisions in Life Furthermore, you can rent out unused assets, like a room or a car.  Automate Savings Even when setting clear financial objectives and budgets, you may forget to put money into your savings accounts for a number of reasons. To avoid this issue, you can opt for automatic transfer of funds to a high-yield savings account like DPS. Many reputed banks in Bangladesh offer such profitable DPS schemes that will automatically transfer a certain amount of money from your salary account to your DPS account each month. Minimize Loans & Debts Avoid taking on loans or debts unless necessary. The banks lure people to take credit cards and personal loans. Uncontrolled credit card spending can trap you in huge debts. To avoid this, you can follow your budget strictly and pay through cash. While taking personal loans, look for banks with lower interest rates and flexible repayment options. Avoid taking a new loan besides repaying your previous loan. To avoid loans, it would be wise if you can build savings for rainy days. Read more: Micro-acts of Joy: Secret to Being Happier and Healthier? Monitor and Adjust Regularly With time, your necessities, earnings, and spending behavior will change. In some months, you may fail to control expenditures due to unforeseen situations. Therefore it is necessary to review your budget and financial goals monthly. Adjust strategies based on life changes or new priorities. And, don’t forget to celebrate milestones to stay motivated. Conclusion Savings help you to be financially stable and independent. Not to mention, during hard times, like medical emergencies or unemployment periods, savings can give you financial protection and mental strength. However, saving money is a habit that requires determination and sacrifice. By implementing the above-mentioned strategies, you can significantly increase your savings in 2025 while building a stronger financial foundation. Read more: Top Strategies to Prepare for 2025: Start the New Year with Confidence and Purpose