ISLAMABAD, March 7: Bangladesh’s Minister for Information Abdul Mueen Khan said that freedom of press without democracy was meaningless.

“I believe freedom of press without democracy does not have any meaning,” he maintained.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the 2nd Information Ministers’ Conference here on Thursday, he also proposed presentation of special Saarc countries programmes on reciprocal basis, common forum for the journalists and free flow of information within and outside the South Asian grouping.

He referred to the overflight ban and said that it took him as well as the Indian minister for information to make a long journey and urged that the overflying ban be lifted.

He said this would be a tangible achievement of the Saarc information ministers conference.

Mr Khan stressed the need for encouraging flow of information between the Saarc nations leading to a greater harmony in the region as well as with the outside world.

He also proposed that television network of member states should allot one hour daily to talks about Saarc and its activists to promote harmony and peace in the region.

He was confident that the media could create enormous amount of awareness about e-commerce and e-business. He said there was a need to have regular exchange of visits of journalist among the member states.

“We have got to promote friendship in the larger interest of Saarc,” he added.