The Editors’ Council has expressed deep concern regarding the unannounced entry of security forces into a media establishment, describing it as a worrying trend ahead of upcoming national elections.
In a statement issued on Monday, the council noted that despite the current interim government’s tenure, there appears to be a visible laxity among state forces in ensuring the safety of journalists and media organisations.
This pattern of behaviour by state institutions has become increasingly evident as the election draws near. The council highlighted a specific incident on 7 February, where army personnel reportedly entered the office of a certain digital media outlet without prior notice.
The statement asserted that if there were any grievances regarding the activities or news dissemination of the organisation, the appropriate course of action should have been to follow established legal procedures rather than resorting to such intrusions.
The statement further observed that for the past 18 months, the government and the heads of various state and security agencies have spoken of efforts to restore the image of these institutions, which had been tarnished during the previous administration.
However, the council believes that such actions involving a media house send a negative signal to both voters and media professionals in the lead-up to the elections.
Simultaneously, the council acknowledged that an unaccountable environment has emerged in certain sectors of digital and multimedia journalism. It noted that the spread of misinformation through some unrecognised platforms is detrimental to the overall atmosphere required for a fair election.
Considering these developments, the Editors’ Council called upon the government, security forces, and all media personnel to play a responsible role from their respective positions to ensure a smooth democratic transition.
The statement was issued on behalf of the Council by its President Nurul Kabir, and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud.
