Staff Correspondent
Information and Broadcasting State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury has said depriving people of the government services they are entitled to is also a form of corruption, urging journalists to expose irregularities, mismanagement and service deprivation in hospitals and other public service institutions through their reporting.
“Corruption is not confined to the embezzlement of public funds. Denying citizens the services they deserve is also a form of irregularity and corruption,” he said, calling on journalists to play a more active role in investigating and reporting on malpractice, particularly in the healthcare sector.
The state minister made the remarks on Tuesday while exchanging views with senior journalists from the greater Mymensingh region working in Dhaka at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting conference room at the Secretariat.
Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts to address the long-standing neglect and underdevelopment of greater Mymensingh, Chowdhury said development initiatives should focus on integrated solutions rather than isolated measures to improve infrastructure, transport, healthcare and public services.
Highlighting the government’s plans to improve connectivity in the region, he said an initiative has been taken to extend the expressway or elevated road from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Bhaluka.
He said all 34 lawmakers from Mymensingh Division have submitted demi-official (DO) letters to the relevant ministry in support of the proposal, which is now awaiting policy approval and clearance from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).
Preliminary discussions are also underway on introducing high-speed train services between Dhaka and Mymensingh and modernising Mymensingh Railway Station, he added.
The state minister said he remains committed to the development of greater Mymensingh and will work in coordination with lawmakers, ministers and other public representatives from the region.
He stressed the need for stronger regional cooperation among Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Netrokona, Kishoreganj and Tangail to accelerate development.
During the meeting, Chowdhury also spoke about his professional career, entry into politics, involvement in democratic movements and the persecution he faced under the previous authoritarian government.
He further said the government is considering a proposal to establish a modern, well-equipped press club with community centre facilities in every district across the country.
Journalist leaders attending the meeting shared their views on the overall development, challenges and prospects of greater Mymensingh. They stressed the need for coordinated initiatives to improve transport, infrastructure, healthcare services and address citizens’ concerns.
Among others, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Organising Secretary Erfanul Haque Nahid; former Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) President Shkhawat Hossain Badsha, Ex-DRU geaneral secretary Ilias Hossain; The Morning Bell Editor and General Secretary of Tangail district Journalists Forum Anisur Rahman Khan; Dhaka Union of Journalists Vice-President Rafique Muhammad; BFUJ Executive Member Hamidul Haque Manik; Banglanews24.com Editor Manjurul Haque; Daily Apon Desh Dotcom Editor-in-Chief and former DRU Organising Secretary Afzal Bari; Tangail Sangbadik Forum, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum President Masudul Haque and General Secretary Ubaidullah Badal; former BFUJ Assistant Secretary General Shafiul Alam Dolon; Mymensingh Sangbadik Forum-Dhaka Member Secretary Md Golam Kibria; Jamalpur Sangbadik Forum-Dhaka President M Monirul Alam; Kishoreganj Sangbadik Forum-Dhaka General Secretary Jahangir Kiron; former Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) General Secretary Sirajul Islam; former DRU Vice-President Mahmudul Hasan; former Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) President Masud Karim; and The Daily Star Senior Reporter Baharam Khan, attended the meeting.
