He made these remarks on Sunday (July 19) at a discussion meeting titled 'July Shaheed Journalist Honor' and 'Role of Media in Fascist Rule' held at the Engineers Institution in the capital. The event was organized by the National Editors Council (NEC). The chief guest was Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Mahmudur Rahman said the July struggle is an ongoing process. Paying tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs, he said that without their sacrifice, the country would not have regained independence and many changes would not have been possible.
He said the primary responsibility of the media is to ask questions. Journalists' right to ask questions must always remain intact, and they will not step back from this position.
Highlighting the purpose of forming the National Editors Council, Mahmudur Rahman said one of the main goals of the organization was to bring together editors of all newspapers in the country and also involve editors from outside Dhaka. At the same time, another objective of the NEC is to keep the nation aware so that no autocratic rule emerges in the future.
He further said that in the past, a section of the media played a sycophantic role behind the rise of fascism. He emphasized moving away from such a culture and practicing independent and responsible journalism.
The welcome speech was given by former press secretary to the Prime Minister, Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel. Others who spoke at the event included editor of Daily Jugantor Abdul Hai Shikdar, editor of Naya Diganta Salahuddin Muhammad Babar, editor of The New Nation Mokarram Hossain, editor of Daily Wader Shafiqul Alam, General Secretary of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Kader Gani Chowdhury, Managing Director of Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Bashir Jamal, and others.
The event began with a recitation from the Holy Quran. Later, guests handed over financial assistance of Tk 1 lakh each and honorific crests to the family members of five journalists killed in the July mass uprising.
