Put public interests first, Asif tells parliament reporters

Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Prof Dr Asif Nazrul on Sunday asked journalists covering Bangladesh’s Jatiya Sangsad to prioritise public interest in their reporting. 

Speaking Sunday at his Bangladesh Secretariat office, he urged reporters to publish news based on the parliament’s Rules of Procedures, emphasising their role in keeping the public informed about legislative affairs.  

“An effective parliament is the cornerstone of democracy,” Asif said during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Bangladesh Parliament Journalists’ Association (BPJA). 

He encouraged the journalists to regularly engage political parties through view-exchange meetings and discussions to deepen their coverage.  

The BPJA, led by President Harun Jamil and General Secretary Shawkat Ali Litho, shared their commitment to bolstering democracy through their work. 

The delegation, including Vice-President Faiz Ullah Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary Mizanur Rahman, Finance Secretary Md Shahjahan Mollah, Office Secretary Nazmul Islam (Tanim Ahmed), and executive members Mashiur Rahman, Monirul Islam, and Rafiqul Islam Sabuj, raised concerns about their challenges in parliament.  

Asif listened attentively, promising to address their issues “as quickly as possible.” With this call to action, he’s challenging the press to sharpen its focus—ensuring parliament’s heartbeat resonates for the people it serves.