Journalists who allegedly legitimised enforced disappearances, killings, vote rigging and other serious irregularities during the previous government are not above the law, said State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury.
He said that while media freedom is guaranteed in the country, anyone involved in undermining democracy or supporting terrorism would face legal action under existing laws.
The state minister made the remarks in response to a supplementary question raised by MP Hasanul Abdullah during the second sitting of the budget session of the 13th National Parliament on Sunday afternoon, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
Raising the issue in Parliament, MP Hasanul Abdullah questioned the role of the media over the past 17 years.
He said that while many journalists performed their professional duties with integrity, some allegedly provided justification for enforced disappearances, killings, vote rigging and other irregularities, and helped “manufacture consent” for such acts.
He also alleged that certain journalists and media outlets benefited from the previous regime and are now being rehabilitated, while journalists aligned with the July movement are being removed from television channels.
Citing recent incidents, he sought to know whether the government had taken or planned any legal action against media organisations or journalists involved in such activities.
In his formal reply, the state minister said Bangladesh ensures freedom of the press, but stressed that anyone acting against democracy or supporting terrorism would be dealt with under the law.
He reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on crime, saying journalists, politicians, businesspeople or public officials would all face legal consequences if found guilty of wrongdoing.
