National Citizen Party (NCP) has expressed concern over what it described as the “unprofessional conduct” and “coordinated propaganda” by several media outlets, alleging that they have been running a sustained campaign against the party and one of its senior leaders.
In a statement issued on Friday, signed by Office Cell member Sadia Farzana Dina, the party alleged that media outlets owned by Bashundhara Group’s East West Media Group Limited -Kaler Kantho, Bangladesh Pratidin, Daily Sun, and Banglanews-have been publishing reports against the July uprising and disseminating what it termed false information targeting NCP Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah.
According to the statement, the alleged campaign intensified after Hasnat, while speaking in parliament, accused the media outlets of promoting narratives favourable to the Awami League and raised allegations of money laundering involving a business conglomerate.
The party cited a report by investigative journalism platform The Descent, which claimed that between 7am on 28 June and 3pm on 1 July, the Bashundhara Group-owned media outlets published 99 pieces of negative content concerning Hasnat Abdullah over an 80-hour period.
It further alleged that, in several cases, identical reports were published across multiple platforms within a short span of time.
NCP also alleged that despite having ample opportunity to reform following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the media organisations concerned had made little effort to improve their professional standards.
It further claimed that media outlets and journalists who had supported the former government during the July uprising had neither acknowledged past mistakes nor expressed remorse, and were instead continuing to promote narratives in favour of authoritarian rule.
Calling for greater professional responsibility, the NCP urged media organisations to uphold ethical journalism to maintain public confidence.
The party also called on television channels not to invite individuals it described as defenders of the Awami League, which it referred to as a party accused of crimes against humanity, to talk shows.
NCP reiterated its demand for the government to establish an independent Media Commission at the earliest, in line with its earlier commitment.
The media organisations named in the statement have not yet issued any comment on the matter.
