They also said a 'right to information act' should be formulated to ensure free flow of information so that journalists could collect information from credible sources.

Samata, a non-government organisation working with land issues, organised the roundtable titled 'The role of media in formulating pro-poor policy' in the city.

Speaking at the roundtable, General Secretary of Bangladesh Economic Association Dr Abul Barkat said the media could play a vital role in implementing different policies.

Referring to land reforms, he said, "The reforms could not be implemented in the country as those who are close to state power are land grabbers."

He also criticised the government for not including the rights of the landless people in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper.

General Secretary of the National Press Club Shoukat Mahmood said the role of media to promote agricultural activities and family planning is commendable.

He also said the right to information act is necessary not only for journalists but also for the betterment of common people.

He also said the media in Bangladesh is by and large biased towards the rich people and hardly cares for the interest of poor people.

Tasmima Hossain, editor of the fortnightly Anannya, Nurul Kabir, executive editor of The New Age, Syed Ishtiaque Reza, news editor of ATN Bangla, Golam Mortaza, executive editor of weekly 2000, Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of the daily Janakantha, and Abdul Kader, executive director of Samata, also spoke.

Former information secretary Syed Margub Morshed attended the roundtable as chief guest.