2024-09-12 14:47:26
Foreign investment is needed for the development of the new Bangladesh achieved through the student uprising, so any investment that protects the national interest will be welcomed.
Advisor to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said this during a meeting with Helen Lafave, Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Dhaka, in the office room of the Secretariat’s Posts and Telecommunications Department on Tuesday (September 10). Nahid Islam.
At the beginning of the discussion, Helen Lafave congratulated the adviser on taking on the new role and wanted to know what the changes in attitude have been to the government as the students’ representative.
Nahid Islam said, I have come to the government as a representative of the students, so the approach is the same, only the working method has changed. We are working to fulfill the aspirations of the people of the country.
When asked about his two ministries from the Charge the Affairs Advisor, Nahid Islam said, I am thinking about the institutional reforms of the two ministries. Accordingly, proposals are being made and worked on.
When Helen Lafave asked about the freedom of the media, especially the cyber security law, the adviser said, “We definitely want to ensure the freedom of the media.” In the past years, the position of Bangladesh was at the very bottom of the media freedom index. Journalists in Bangladesh have been harassed in various ways in the past days. We have seen the travesty of journalist Sagar Rooney’s murder trial. The previous government has curtailed media freedom with several laws, especially the Cyber Security Act. We are working on this law. Basically, we will not put any law in conflict with international human rights law.
Artificial intelligence is very important for Bangladesh, its relevance is also increasing day by day, so if we get a specific proposal from the United States, we can work on it jointly, said the advisor Nahid Islam.
When Helen Lafave asked journalists about the wage board, the adviser said, there is dissatisfaction with the wage board, due to the low salary structure, young people are losing interest in the profession of journalism, so the reform of the wage board is being considered.
Adviser Nahid Islam commented that he will consider whether a new creative project can be taken in addition to continuing the ongoing joint project of the United States and Bangladesh.
Public Affairs Officer Stephen Ibeli asked how he sees politics inside the media house, the adviser said, “There is no obstacle from our side. If journalists come forward for reforms in this regard, we will try to solve this problem.”
Adviser Nahid Islam mentioned that PIB, university journalism department and working together on training of citizen journalists.
When asked about the investment of US companies Meta, Google, Microsoft, Oracle in Bangladesh by Commercial Counselor John Fay, the adviser said, We welcome any investment that protects the national interest. Besides, the delegation was also requested to set up the data center of these companies in Bangladesh instead of India.
During the meeting, Advisor Nahid Islam thanked the United States for the friendly relations between the two countries and mutual partnership and cooperation in various developmental sectors of Bangladesh. At this time, he informed the Charge the Affairs about the strict and rigid stand of this government against corruption, injustice and discrimination.
In the meeting, the secretary of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications. Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Department. Samsul Arefin, Political-Economic Counselor of the Embassy Erich Zilan, Economic Officer of the US Embassy James Gardiner, Commercial Counselor John Fay, Public Affairs Officer Stephen Ibeli, Protocol Supervisor Nishat Tasnim were present at this time.