Bangladesh urgently needs an independent media commission and laws to protect journalism and journalists in order to strengthen press freedom, speakers said at an event yesterday.
They voiced concerns over the shifting media landscape and leadership following the August 5 changeover of government.
Titled "Self-Regulation and Grievances in Media: Political and Policy Perspectives", the programme was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital.
CGS President Zillur Rahman moderated the event.
Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam said the government faces a leadership crisis, including uncertainty over his own tenure. "While other advisers may stay until the February election, I don't know how long I'll remain in my position."
He added that rumours about advisers stepping down have slowed work at government offices.
"The political landscape changed significantly after June's events in London, which is why if parties want, I can pass a law within a month. But without goodwill, many are waiting for the next government to take over."
Mahfuj expressed frustration that few focus on national interest or the creation of good laws, policies, and practices. He accused BNP- and Jamaat-aligned forces of using delays in government policy as a political tool to portray the administration as ineffective.
"We won't weaponise laws against the media. But we cannot allow anyone to simply call themselves a journalist without accountability. Freedom of expression without responsibility is dangerous."
— Mahfuj Alam, information adviser
He also criticised disputes over BNP-Jamaat men's administrative appointments, saying promises of reforms are often short-lived. "Non-cooperation started from December."
On reforms, he said, "From my end, I am trying. At least we want to move forward with the wage board, journalism protection law, and media commission. We want media houses to prepare a code of conduct by November."
He acknowledged bureaucratic and political hurdles and said the ministry is focusing on short- and medium-term measures while flagging longer-term reforms.
Of 23 reform recommendations given by the Media Reform Commission, 13 short-term measures were selected, including circulation thresholds, advertising rates, and wage guidelines.
"We won't weaponise laws against the media. But we cannot allow anyone to simply call themselves a journalist without accountability. Freedom of expression without responsibility is dangerous."
Mahfuj reiterated his pledge that no media house would be closed during his tenure.
"There are three concentrated centres of power — bureaucracy, business, and media owners — and vested interests are deeply embedded. You cannot transform the whole ecosystem overnight."
He appealed to journalists to adopt self-regulation and professional ethics and supported UNESCO-led efforts to develop a code of conduct.
Kamal Ahmed, head of the Media Reform Commission and consulting editor at The Daily Star, criticised the government's delay in implementing proposed reforms.
He urged the establishment of an independent media commission and laws to protect journalism and journalists, saying press freedom cannot be ensured and journalists' rights cannot be safeguarded without them.
Ahmed expressed frustration that despite months of proposals and calls for public consultation, no clear progress has been made.
"We expected an explanation for why there is a delay, especially six months after our report," he said, adding, "Without action, promises of reform will remain empty words."
He also urged the government to publish draft laws for public feedback and stressed the need for financial security for journalists for independent journalism to survive.
He highlighted gaps in existing laws, adding, "Without proper implementation, the reforms will be ineffective." He warned that self-regulation must not become censorship and called for a legally backed framework to protect press freedom.
Prof SM Shameem Reza, of Dhaka University's journalism department, urged independent research into why public trust in the media is declining in Bangladesh.
He said no serious, impartial study has been conducted. "Such research should be carried out by independent bodies, not media owners, to ensure objectivity, and should include the experiences of rural journalists in the reform process."
BNP Media Cell Convenor Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel stressed the need for self-reflection and moral responsibility in journalism to protect its role as the "fourth pillar" of the state.
He voiced concerns over growing social media influence, where accountability is absent, and over how mainstream media follow social media trends without verification, threatening credibility.
Pavel said the media should prioritise truthfulness and not become a propaganda tool, especially during elections. He called on media houses to maintain independence, adopt codes of conduct, and deliver accurate information to the public.
He urged journalists to hold political parties accountable to voters and warned that without ethical reform, journalism would fail to reflect public aspirations and instead be exploited for political manipulation.
Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, stressed comprehensive media reforms and stronger political commitment to press freedom.
"Despite discussions, there has been little progress," he said, urging all stakeholders to take ownership of reforms. He called for political parties to include clear commitments in their manifestos and warned about new trends of online activism and targeted criticism threatening press freedom.
Jubairul Hasan Arif, chief joint organiser of Chattogram's National Citizen Party, said Bangladesh needs both theoretical and practical reforms to strengthen media independence.
He welcomed the Media Reform Commission's proposals, especially laws to protect journalists, regulate cross-ownership, and establish the "One House-One Media" policy.
Arif urged the establishment of an independent wage board and called on political parties to state their positions on independent media and consider forming a civil society group for regulation.
Sohrab Hossain, a former senior journalist at Prothom Alo, expressed concerns over press freedom, saying that 266 journalists face charges of murder or attempted murder, with around 16 in prison. "In many cases, no formal charges have been filed even after a year."
He described this as a continuation of repressive practices and a form of persecution, and stressed the need for regulatory frameworks. He urged political parties to commit to protecting press freedom in their manifestos.
When The Daily Star's Senior Reporter Zyma Islam reiterated the number of cases against journalists, M Abdullah, former president of a section of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, strongly disputed the claim of 266 journalists currently charged with murder.
"The figure is baseless…. No credible evidence exists. While harassment, imprisonment, and violence occur, there is no reliable record of such a large number of murder or attempted murder cases."
He added that a review committee under the information ministry found only 72 cases, mostly outside Dhaka and arising from personal disputes, not political persecution. Mahfuj Alam endorsed Abdullah's statement.
Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal General Secretary Nazmul Haque Pradhan, Communist Party of Bangladesh General Secretary Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan, Gono Odhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan, and AB Party Joint General Secretary Nasreen Sultana Mily also spoke at the event.
News Courtesy: