BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday criticised attempts to silence dissent in Bangladesh and urged journalists to uphold their independence.
He made the remarks at the opening of the Bangladesh Federal Journalists’ Union (BFUJ) biennial council at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Fakhrul highlighted the critical condition of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who has been seriously ill in hospital for the past two days. He urged everyone to pray for her recovery, noting that doctors are making every effort to restore her health.
Addressing journalists, he stressed the importance of asserting their rights independently, rather than serving media owners or the government.
“Aligning with any political party does not solve problems. Over the past 15 years, Sheikh Hasina has deliberately undermined media space. We must work to reclaim it,” he said.
Fakhrul added that the nation is awaiting a return to democracy through the upcoming elections in February. He emphasised that freedom of expression is a core democratic principle.
“Unity at the core is essential, but differences of opinion will exist. Democracy requires protecting the right to express dissent,” he said.
He warned that dissent is often treated as hostility in Bangladesh. Targeted propaganda on social media and negative campaigns against politicians, he said, create disorder and mob violence, undermining democratic progress.
Recalling BNP’s commitment to press freedom, Fakhrul mentioned that both Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia worked to safeguard media independence. “This principle is also enshrined in BNP’s 31-point agenda,” he noted.
He advised journalists to strengthen their union and assert their rights independently. “If you stand on your own, without bowing to any party, you can secure your rights,” he added.
At the event, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar also addressed journalists. He warned that many journalists are failing to remain impartial and are being used to serve owners’ financial interests. “Some media outlets act as guardians of corruption and looting rather than public service,” he said.
Parwar noted that while political parties may differ ideologically, they should unite on common goals such as eliminating corruption and ensuring social justice—a view he said was widely shared.
