Terming press as the fourth state, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said journalists unearth the unknown stories and hidden truths of the society.

Tremendous development has been wrought during the last 13 years of Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added.

He made the remarks while addressing the Bashundhara Media Award 2021 ceremony as the chief guest at the ICCB in the capital Monday night.

The minister said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina before the parliamentary polls told a programme in Jatiya Press Club that she will do something for professional safeguard and upgradation of journalists. In line with her commitment, the government has initiated Mass Media Law. When the law will be passed in the parliament, the service of the journalists will be more secure.”

Dispelling controversy over Digital Security Act, he said the law is passed by the government to protect all citizens, not journalists alone.

If any rumour or fake information is spread against anybody, the law is expected to give legal redress to the affected person, he added.

About more contribution of the government, he said the number of dailies have increased from 450 to 1250 and TV channels from 10 38. An example will suffice to know the development of the online news portals. Earlier, online portal was handful. In latest development, around 5,000 applications were received by the government seeking registration of the online portals.”

Hassan Mahmud said, “I interact with journalists every day. Many of them are more talented than officers in BCS cadres.”

Some sit for the BCS and become government officers. Some others start their career as journalists abandoning jobs like university teaching, added the minister.

But the job of journalists is vulnerable. So, the government has taken various measures to protect their service, Hasan Mahmud concluded.