Dhaka, March 16 -- The media's decision to put 'too much importance' on the hijacking of Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah and the kidnapping of its sailors by Somali pirates is having a negative impact, says Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.

"The hijackers are seeing what is being shown on Bangladeshi televisions as they have the chance to watch all the channels through satellite," Hasan said at a media briefing at YNT Centre in Chattogram's Dewanjee Pukur Lane area on Saturday.

"When the matter is given too much importance and the hijackers watch the reaction of the hostages' families, their position becomes more inflexible. That's how the coverage is having a negative impact."

Stating that the matter should be handled with more care, the mi...