Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (July 10, 2023) asked the media to do constructive criticism for the welfare of the country, not for damaging it. "The criticism should be for the welfare of the country and not for damaging it,"  she said while addressing a function at her office here in the city. In the function, the premier distributed cheques of financial assistance to the families of dead, sick, insolvent and injured journalists. This year some Tk 3.46 crore were given against 438 journalists as financial assistance from Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT) Fund. Read more: Fast-evolving tech may pose ‘unprecedented crises’ if journalists aren’t prepared: World Journalists Conference Hasina said the Awami League government has ensured freedom of media in the last 14 years. "None had ever enjoyed so much freedom in the past," she said. The PM asked the media to do criticism as much as required to correct the government but not to hamper the ongoing progress of the country. "We don't want that the progress of Bangladesh ti be hampered," she said. She said the media will have to have the sense of responsibility and dutifulness towards the country and the nation while they enjoy freedom. The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions. Read more: Assault on on-duty journalists an unpardonable crime: GM Quader So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.  The Prime Minister said her government allowed private sector to run television channels when she came  to power in 1996 and then gave licenses of many television channels to generate employment. She said her government is going to bring the private television channels under a wage board. She called upon the media owners to donate money to the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust. Sheikh Hasina said her government can take arrangements so that the journalists can buy lands or flats making payment in installments. She said they have taken housing projects to bring landless people under the scheme free of costs following the footsteps of the Father of the Nation. Taking a swipe at critics of quick rental power plants, she said how could Bangladesh witness so much development unless Tk 90,000 crore was not given to the quick rental power plants. The BJWT fund was formed in 2014 with the seed money of Tk 25 crore provided by the prime minister on two occasions. So far some Tk 40 crore was distributed among 13,510 journalists from the fund. Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud presided over the function, while Information Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker spoke on the occasion.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (April 16, 2023) said complaining to foreigners will bring no benefits to BNP and suggested that the opposition party reach out to voters at the grassroots and listen to them. “These are very unfortunate. They should go to voters at the grassroots level. Foreigners will not cast votes, rather the people of Bangladesh will do that,” he said when a reporter drew his attention to a BNP delegation meeting US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Sunday. Momen referred to his recent visit to his constituency in Sylhet and said political leaders' efforts should be focused on people’s welfare. “If you discuss with grassroots voters, you will understand what can be done for further development,” he said. Also Read: 3-member BNP delegation meets US envoy Responding to a question, Momen said the US wants “free and fair elections” and they (AL) want the same. “There is no difference in opinion (on the election issue).” He said the US wants to strengthen its relations with Bangladesh and the US ambassador is an expert on trade and investment issues. “We hope efforts on trade development will be expedited and the ambassador will emphasize on it.” Regarding his recent meeting with the US Secretary of State, Momen said the Bangladesh side answered the questions that the US had including a question on the Digital Security Act (DSA). Bangladesh is examining the issue as in some areas application of the DSA might not be done correctly. “We are examining it. If there is any weakness, we will take care of it,” said the foreign minister. Also Read: US urged to create “safe protection zone” in Myanmar to facilitate Rohingya repatriation Momen said the US is “pretty happy” with Bangladesh’s response as both sides want to avoid unnecessary harassment. He said Bangladesh fought for establishing democracy, justice, freedom of press and religion and Bangladesh which gave blood does not need to take any lesson from others. “We told them our story and shared our position.” Bangladesh has conveyed to the USA that the Digital Security Act (DSA) is not meant for restricting the freedom of press, noting that the government believes in freedom of press. “We said we enacted the Digital Security Act, but it is not to curb the freedom of press. Awami League believes in freedom of press,” Momen told the US side during his meeting with Blinken in Washington DC. Also Read: Digital Security Act not for restricting media freedom, Momen tells US Momen mentioned the presence of a huge number of newspapers and private television channels in Bangladesh which he described as “hyperactive”. At the meeting, Blinken expressed concerns about “violence against and intimidation of the media and civil society,” including under the Digital Security Act, according to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel.  Asked whether the government feels any pressure amid repeated calls for holding free and fair elections in Bangladesh, Momen said, “We are very happy.” “No pressure. We want free and fair elections. It’s our own commitment.” Read More: Investigate if BNP-Jamaat are behind recent fire incidents to cripple economy: PM Hasina asks authorities  Since holding free and fair elections is a government’s commitment, Momen said, the repeated calls from the US helped them make their commitment afresh. He said the government and the Election Commission alone cannot ensure a free and fair election but it requires sincerity and commitment from all political parties. Momen said the government encouraged the US side to send election observers as many as they want. “We are open to observers.” “Of course, we’re looking – the world is looking – to Bangladesh for its next election, to make sure that they set a strong example of free and fair election for the region and for the world,” Secretary Blinken said during his meeting with Momen on April 10. Read More: The entire world with Bangladesh for credible polls, human rights, press freedom: BNP  “I agree with Secretary Blinken. I am so happy that he also wants a model election which can be portrayed in the rest of the world. I want this, too and we seek support from all,” Momen said earlier.

President Abdul Hamid on Monday said the time has come to evaluate how much has been done or is being done for the welfare of the people of the country.