National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has called for the implementation of the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations and urged the government to ensure an independent working environment for journalists.
He made the remarks at an event titled ‘July through the Eyes of Journalists’, organised by the Democratic Journalists Alliance at Hotel Westin in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Monday afternoon.
Emphasising the need to protect journalists, Nahid said initiatives taken on media reforms during the interim government’s tenure should be continued.
“The Media Reform Commission put forward many good policies, including the Journalists’ Protection Act. We demand that this government implement those recommendations in line with the commission’s proposals,” he said.
He said journalists would not be able to work freely unless their safety was ensured.
“Gradually, we are seeing that democracy is shrinking. The space for speech is shrinking. This contraction must be resisted,” he added.
Highlighting the role of journalists during the July mass Uprising, Nahid said they worked under extremely challenging circumstances and provided information and insights that helped the movement’s organisers make important decisions.
“Different journalists provided us with various pieces of information, news and insights at different times, and those insights and information were useful in making many of our important decisions,” he said.
He also said many journalists played an important role in taking injured people to hospitals during the movement, while digital media footage and documentaries helped highlight events during the uprising.
“Without the active participation of journalists in this movement, it would not have been possible. You played that courageous role publicly, indirectly and secretly. We express our gratitude for this,” Nahid said.
On democracy and the role of opposition parties, he said political forces must have the right to protest through democratic means.
“The opposition will speak in parliament. They will also speak outside parliament. This is the character of a democratic state and a democratic movement,” he said.
Calling for responsible journalism and politics, Nahid said, “We want responsible journalism. At the same time, we want responsible politics.”
He urged continuation of government initiatives regarding journalists killed and injured during the July mass Uprising and expressed hope that neither the government nor any political force would obstruct journalists from carrying out their professional duties.
Emphasising the importance of strong democratic institutions, he said freedom of expression and democracy could not survive based on individual will alone.
“Freedom of expression never survives by individual will. Democracy does not survive. Democracy survives if institutions are strong. The media is one such institution,” he said.
Nahid expressed hope that strengthening the media and ensuring its neutrality would help sustain democracy and democratic movements in the country.
