The media in Bangladesh enjoys the same freedom as those in developed countries, Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, said on Thursday.
He stated that the interim government had fostered an environment allowing journalists to work without fear. “Over the past ten months, we have created a climate where journalists can work fearlessly. We have never questioned any media outlet about their news coverage. This government has never pressured the press,” Shafiqul Alam said at a seminar titled “Freedom of the Media: Review of Legal Frameworks for Journalists’ Safety and Grievance Redressal.”
The seminar was held at the CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital and was organised by the Centre for Governance Studies.
Alam further remarked, “There has been a trust deficit in journalism over the past 17 years, and we are working to overcome that. Our aim is not to silence journalists. Previously, ministers and MPs would call journalists inappropriately. Even security agencies, which ought to focus on national security, were interfering. We have stopped such practices. We want everyone to practice responsible journalism.”
Addressing legal cases against journalists, Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul noted that filing false cases had become rampant across society, including against journalists. “If someone files a false case without evidence, there is little we can do,” he added. However, he assured that the Home Ministry had instructed law enforcement not to arrest anyone without sufficient evidence.
“Nearly all cases under the Digital Security Act have been withdrawn,” he added.
When asked about the bail of journalist Farzana Rupa, he clarified that the Ministry of Law cannot influence judges on bail decisions. “Judges make decisions independently based on legal grounds,” he said.
Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, chair of the Election Reform Commission, emphasized the media’s role in ensuring free and fair elections. “The media plays a crucial role in ensuring people’s voting rights. However, for the past 15 years, the media has often promoted irregularities, which helped legitimize illegal elections. The media must come out of this practice,” he stated.
Other speakers at the event included Communist Party General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, political analyst Zahed-ur-Rahman, Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) Chairman Bobby Hajjaj, senior journalist M.A. Aziz, and Sohorab Hasan.