The Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) launched a programme on Building Capacity in Business Journalism Professionals (BCBJP), a capacity enhancing programme for business journalism and economic reporters. The ceremony was held at the BEI Conference Room on Thursday, July 5, 2007.

Barrister Mainul Hosein, Honourable Adviser, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, inaugurated the capacity building programme as the chief guest. Mr. Farooq Sobhan, President, BEI, presided over the ceremony.

Distinguished discussants at the ceremony included Mr. Sadeq Khan, Chairman, Press Institute of Bangladesh; Mr. Mahfuz Anam, Editor, The Daily Star; Mr. Mir Nasir Hossain, President, FBCCI; Mr. Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Editor and Managing Director, BSS; and Mr. Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.

BCBJP is a training programme aimed towards building the capacity of economic reporters and business journalism professionals in Bangladesh. This initiative, undertaken by BEI with support from the Center for International Private Enterprises (CIPE), aims to create a demand for effective economic reporting. BCBJP is envisioned to contribute towards the growth and development of the private sector in Bangladesh by strengthening the role of media as a “watch-dog”, which monitors and reports on economic reforms and development.

While inaugurating the programme, the Information Adviser said that. “All information and no knowledge is not journalism; in the context of our country, we have to prepare the media for effectively advocating pro-poor growth and development strategies.” He highly commended the media houses for nominating their reporters for attending this timely programme and said that the participants and the media houses alike will benefit from the enhanced knowledge and art of business reporting. He urged the country’s business leaders to come forward and help the media and civil society organizations to meet the need for effective economic reporting.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sobhan said that BCBJP is expected to strengthen economic reporting, and provide society with an accurate representation of the challenges faced by the private sector. He is hopeful that the programme is would enable journalists and the media to monitor the activities of the private sector better and in so doing, will ensure that the interests of society are protected.

While speaking on how media professionals could contribute towards the growth and development of the country, Mr. Sadeq Khan said that it is necessary for journalists to develop specializations and that the same journalist should not look after all the sectors. He also proposed that business chambers and associations should provide media professionals with research and library facilities so that the latter group could be better equipped with knowledge about the operations of the private sector.

Mahfuz Anam said that it is unfair to blame the entire business community because of the faulty and unethical practices of a few businesspersons. He added that journalism plays an instrumental role in creating that vital confidence amongst people which ensures the private sectors success. The private sector is very fragile, and the entire linkage from seeding public confidence to a successful corporation could be achieved through the professionalism of journalists. He said that while reporting business issues, journalists must strike a balance between public interest and private interest. He welcomed the participants to embrace economic reporting/business journalism as a profession.

Building Capacity in Business Journalism Professionals (BCBJP) is a one-year programme that is envisioned to provide participants with an insight to various issues related to private sector development, including local and international best practices. Lectures will be held one a week for a three-hour period. Local and international experts have been invited to deliver lectures on various business concepts and practices to help economic reporters and business journalists to develop and enhance their knowledge, skills and capacity.

From Left to Right: Mr. Mir Nasir Hossain, President, FBCCI, Mr. Mahfuz Anam, Editor, The Daily Star, Barrister Mainul Hosein, Honourable Adviser, Ministry of Information, Mr. Farooq Sobhan, President, BEI, Mr. Sadeq Khan, Chairman, Press Institute of Bangladesh, and Mr. Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, President, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists.

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