Coastal journalist work as vanguard to save environment: Speakers

Speakers said local journalists in the costal areas work on self-motivation to save the environment which is one of the basic factors of sustainability of the nation and  work as the vanguard to save the environment without their own benefit.

They were talking at a dialogue titled "Prospects and Challenges of Environment Journalism" jointly organised by Journalists Network of Bengal Delta and COAST Trust at CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka.

Journalists from five coastal districts including Cox's Bazar, Bhola, Jhalkathi, Pirojpur and Bagerhat attended the discussion which was chaired by Director of COAST Trust Mustafa Kamal Akanda and moderated by Senior News Editor of ATN Bangla Manash Ghosh, said a press release.  

The keynote was delivered by Joint Director of COAST Barkat Ullah Maruf, where he said media houses having local journalists should play primary role to build their capacity and also ensure the security of local environment journalists should be ensured.

Non-government organizations also could play a role in this regard, he added.

Climate and Environment expert Dr Atiq Rahman of BCAS, Syeda Rizwana Hasan of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), Chief Executive of CPRD Shamsuddoha, Joint Secretary of BAPA Professor Ahmed Kamruzzaman Mazumder also spoke in the dialogue.  

Dr Atiq Rahman said local journalists should be trained with scientific conscience and good writing capacity.  Shamsuddoha said environment journalists are at risk not because they are against the land grabbers or godfathers.

Manash Ghosh suggested a network of the local environment journalists could protect them from all the risks and we are working for this.

Mustafa Kamal Akanda said, the non-government organisations have been patronising the local journalists particularly in the coastal area of Bangladesh for a long time and they will keep doing this.

Environment journalists are the key players to achieve the SDG, he added.