Journalists risking lives to perform duties during pandemic: Hasan
Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said journalists are risking their lives in discharging their duties amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The minister developed this remark while inaugurating a disinfection chamber at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
He said: “60 journalists were up to now infected with coronavirus in the united states. I lost my pal, journalist Humayun Kabir Khokan, who died of Covid-19.”
Hasan, also the Awami League joint general secretary, prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Khokan and sought early recovery of these infected with coronavirus.
He said: “I requested the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University authorities to keep a special Covid-19 testing arrangement for journalists and they kept my request. I'll also ask them to open a special booth for journalists.”
The info minister said the federal government is doing everything easy for the country’s needy journalists and hoped that something could be done soon to the end.
Many developed countries spend additional money in military sector than that of medical research, he said, but the whole world is currently involved with a war against a low profile enemy- coronavirus.
“No more war of arms,” he said, urging all states to interact to safeguard their peoples from coronavirus.
Highlighting the global situation of Covid-19, Hasan said this is not a national crisis but a worldwide pandemic.
“This time, you (reporters) should prepare inspirational news items in order that none gets disappointed,” he added.
He said prime minister Sheikh Hasina has taken the country’s one third of population beneath the government’s assistance, including economic stimulus, to protect their lives and livelihoods amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Depends upon and even the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, and prestigious magazines like Forbes and The Economist applauded the bold leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in tackling the coronavirus crisis, Hasan said.
Chaired by DRU president Rafiqul Islam Azad and moderated by its general secretary Reaz Chowdhury, the function was addressed, amongst others, by National Interest of Bangladesh (NIB) executive president Mohammad Ibrahim and DRU vice-president Nazrul Kabir.
Later, with respect to the party, AL relief and social welfare secretary Sujit Roy Nandi handed over coronavirus safety gears - antiseptic soaps and hand sanitizers - to the DRU leaders for journalists.
