Don't want to see Rohingyas uprooted again: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said they do not want to see any more the movement like "Black life Matters" or uprooting of 1.1 million Rohingyas due to the spread of venom of hatred and intolerance as Bangladesh promotes the culture of peace.

"In this world of violence and terror that emanate from a mindset of intolerance, ignorance and disrespect towards others, we hope to promote the culture of peace," he said.

The Foreign Minister said promoting the culture of peace will help create a mindset of respect and tolerance towards others irrespective of religion, ethnicity, race and colour for a sustainable world of peace and stability across nations.

He was addressing the presentation ceremony of American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) Frontline Journalism Award.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and AmCham President Syed Ershad Ahmed, among others, spoke at the programme.

Dr Momen thanked AmCham for organising the event to recognise and honour the gallant journalists working as the front liners in the current Covid-19 pandemic.

"I hope this award will encourage journalists to maintain high moral value and publish news for the sake of people and the country," he said.

Dr Momen conveyed his deepest condolence at the death of Larry King, an icon in journalism whom he used to know.

"We travelled together a few times when I was working for Mike Dukakis, Democratic President Candidate in 1988. We normally sat next to each other's and once he is on the flight, he would start typing. When I asked him to do it in his hotel room in comfort, he said, when he is on the ground he collects information and once he is on the flight he jolt downs important issues/ comments before he forgets," Dr Momen said, adding that information is key to journalism.

He said journalism needs to be as transparent as possible so that the audience can make their own assessment and inferences of the information. "Reporting must not be loaded with subjective analyses."

He said the journalist's loyalty is a two-fold one – the discovery of facts and the welfare of the masses irrespective of cast, creed, religion, ethnicity, and nationality.

"It's the people for whom the news and information are published, and the credibility towards people builds a broad and loyal audience," Dr Momen said.

He said journalists should also attempt to fairly represent varied viewpoints and interests in society and to place them in context rather than highlight only the conflicting peripheries of debate. "Convergence of divergent views and viewpoints onto a syncretic milieu could be a worthy target to be fulfilled."

In an age of post-fact truth and sensationalising news and even analytics, Dr Momen said journalism presents both an opportunity and a challenge.

He said Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and this year it will celebrate the Golden Jubilee of independence.

"These two occasions are our greatest national events so far and the government has taken many initiatives to commemorate the events," Dr Momen said.