Foreign Minister and Bangladesh Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud emphasised the crucial role journalists play in shaping the state and society.
Speaking at the 62nd anniversary celebration of the Chittagong Press Club at Bangabandhu Hall on Thursday evening, he praised journalists for their ability to uncover hidden aspects of society and guide the state and society in the right direction.
Dr Mahmud acknowledged that journalists highlight government mistakes, which is welcomed as it ensures transparency. He cautioned against harmful reporting that could damage the country, pointing out that some political groups, including BNP-Jamaat, often deny the nation's progress. Despite driving across the Padma Bridge and using the elevated expressway in Dhaka, they claim there has been no development, which he refuted by noting that public buses also use these facilities.
He noted that the implementation rate of each budget in the last 15 years has been between 92% and 97%. He cited the recent presentation of a budget worth around Tk eight lakh crore as a testament to the country's progress. Dr Mahmud highlighted that in the last 15 years, the budget size has increased 11.5 times, per capita income has risen 5.5 times, and the GDP has grown almost six fold. The poverty rate dropped from 41% to 18.7%, and extreme poverty decreased from 22% to 5.5%.
Dr Mahmud attributed these achievements to the realistic budget formulation and implementation by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. He criticised the persistent negativity of some groups, including the BNP, as an obstacle to national development.
Chittagong Press Club President Md Salahuddin Reza presided over the event, with General Secretary Devdulal Bhowmik delivering the welcome speech. Reza expressed his best wishes on the occasion, marking the first time the club celebrated its founding anniversary and honored former presidents and general secretaries in a festive atmosphere. Bhowmik noted that the event had generated great enthusiasm and would accelerate the club's progress.
The event honored past presidents and general secretaries. Presidents including Matiur Rahman (CSP), Kazi Jalaluddin Ahmad (CSP), M Nurul Islam, B A Azad Islamabadi, M A Malek, Abdullah Al Sagir, Ataul Hakim, M Obaidul Haque, Muhammad Idris, Abu Sufian, Akhtar Un Nabi, Alhaj Ali Abbas, and Kalim Sarwar.
Honorary general secretaries included M I Karim, Prof Mohammad Khaled, Syed Shafiquddin Ahmad, B A Azad Islamabadi, Noor Saeed Chowdhury, Osman Gani Mansoor, Nizam Uddin Ahmad, Abu Sufian, Helal Uddin Chowdhury, Farooq Iqbal, Kalim Sarwar, Ejaz Yousufi, Rashed Rauf, Mohsin Chowdhury, Shuklal Dash, and Farid Uddin Chowdhury.
