Communications between media and corporate bodies directly and through efficient public relations (PR) or mass communications (MC) personnel can be vital to ensure good governance and human rights, they told the roundtable titled "Corporate Governance: Bridging Corporate Sector and Media".

Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), a non government organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Manusher Jonno, another NGO, organised the roundtable, which was participated by business association leaders, chief executives/representatives of insurance, mobile phone operators, cement and hospitality companies and newspaper editors.

Moazzem Hossain, editor of the Financial Express, moderated the roundtable where Jamal Uddin Ahmad, managing director of Jaroms Industries Ltd, said corporate social responsibility (CSR) is needed much to serve the humanity.

Media must be on the front line in disseminating impartial news for ensuring transparency in the corporate sector, said Ahmed, also a former deputy prime minister.

Dewan Sultan Ahmed, vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), said businesspeople should focus mainly on business, not politics.

Mohiuddin Babar, communication manager of Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, said media have a watchdog role to ensure accountability and transparency of corporate sector. Media also need to improve their capacity to play the watchdog role, he added.

Nasir A Choudhury, managing director of Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd, said government should introduce incentives to those companies, which comply with corporate social responsibilities.

Shyamal Dutt, acting editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, said business interest of media overshadows their role towards social responsiveness. He also stressed the need for maintaining good governance in media to ensure their accountability.