Media Minister meets Bangladeshi counterpart

Bangladesh Minister for Information Hasanul Haq Inu (left) and Minister of Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka

Minister for Information of Bangladesh Hasanul Haq Inu arrived in Colombo on Tuesday on a four-day official visit to Sri Lanka. The Minister held a meeting with Sri Lankan Minister of Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka on Wednesday. 

A wide range of topics about bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the areas of media were discussed. The two Ministers resolved that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would work closely together in protecting the sanctity and independence of media from the onslaught of inappropriate content, extremism and terrorism.

The discussion recognised the need for greater interaction between the institutions of media of the two countries. With this end in view, the two sides agreed in principle to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sharing of content between news agencies, television and radio as well as producing cinema in joint venture. 

The two Ministers laid emphasis on the need of training of officials engaged in the institutions of information and media, and of regular holding of film festivals in each other’s country. Sri Lankan side expressed interest in learning from the experience of Bangladesh in implementing Right to Information Act and in running Community Radio.

The Bangladesh delegation also visited the Media Monitoring Unit of the Ministry of Mass Media and received a briefing on its work.

This is the first Ministerial level bilateral visit taking place between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka after the new Government in Sri Lanka took office following the presidential election in January 2015.