Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged journalists not to criticise the government in a way that hampers the country’s advancement or creates any scope for the enemies to speak against the government.

‘I’ve no objection if journalists criticise [the government], but my ardent request to you is that your criticisms shouldn’t deter the country’s advancement and give the enemies any scope to speak. Please, keep it in mind,’ she said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a function at her office before distributing donation cheques among ill, insolvent, injured journalists in accidents and the family members of the deceased journalists.

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu spoke on the occasion. Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Ministry AKM Rahmatullah, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, Information Secretary Sheikh Mortuza Ahmed were also present.

Mentioning that her government has introduced the Eight Wage Board for journalists, Hasina said the advertisement rate for those newspapers which implemented the recommendations of the Eight Wage Board has been doubled.

In this connection, the Prime Minister said her government is closely monitoring those media outlets that are yet to implement the Eight Wage Board. ‘We’ll limit the facilities for those who will fail to implement the Wage Board.’