President Abdul Hamid today expressed his hope that the government will give due attention to salary disparities of journalists following the announcement of new national pay scale.

He called upon the journalists to contribute to the continuation of the country's democratic march forward.

"Mass media is the fourth estate. The nation expresses its unrevealed hopes, expectations and desires through it. The media fulfill the duties by telling which executive and other branches overlook or do not give proper attention," he said.

The president made the statement at the inaugural session of the biennial conference of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.

This is why, President Hamid said, mass media workers also face displeasure of others. "But this is an important job and in absence of it democracy remains incomplete. So, the mass media is very important for nation building."

"Mass media and democracy are complementary to each other, and one cannot be complete without another. When democracy flourishes, the mass media also flourish," he observed.

Abdul Hamid went on saying, "So you'll have to work with devotion and sincerity for the continuation of democratic march forward. You must keep it in mind so that individual, institute or the nation does not fall victim to unnecessary harassment for your any report."

He also urged the journalists to give priority to national interest in telecasting and publishing news, rather than giving priority to the issue of publicity and expansion of newspapers or channels.

Mentioning that journalists feel a sense of disparity after the announcement of pay scale for government employees, Abdul Hamid hoped that the government would give proper attention to it and their problems will be solved soon.

"I can assure you, as the president, my door is open for you always. I must do which is possible on my part," the president said.

The present time is dubbed as an age of information revolution, but it has downside too, he observed adding that the challenge is now to use this ever-expanding technology for the welfare of people with responsibility. "The role of media men is very important in this regard."

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, President of the Jatiya Press Club Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman, acting president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Zafar Wazed and acting president of DUJ Atiqur Rahman Chowdhury and General Secretary Quddus Afrad also spoke on the occasion.