Sunday, October 12, 2025

Media worries over freedom, ethics

News media editors and senior journalists yesterday called for bolstering ethical practices in the field, saying the media has to play its due role in strengthening democracy, although money has started influencing it, and some politicians are attacking it viciously.
Condemning some lawmakers’ recent diatribes against the media in the parliament, the journalists said despite some mistakes, the media in Bangladesh has always favoured democracy, but politicians often forget that.
At a roundtable, the journalists said there must be a policy for issuing licenses to electronic media outlets, cautioning that political considerations in the process for the last several years have led to instability in the sector to a great extent.
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, however, said the present government believes in full freedom of the press, and comments of an individual member of the parliament can never be the official statement of the government which considers the media as a complementary force.
He endorsed the need for a qualitative change in the media, and said the government will use the Press Institute of Bangladesh to that end, and will take steps to make the National Press Council effective.
The daily Prothom Alo organised the roundtable on “Freedom of Mass Media and Accountability” in the conference room of its office in the capital.
“Never before had I seen in my professional life the way the media was attacked in the parliament recently, without giving it the opportunity to defend itself,” said the daily Samkal Editor Golam Sarwar.
“Interestingly, the Speaker of the House also joined in the attack, and that raises the question whether the attack was planned,” he said, adding that the country’s media is passing through a difficult period, when money and power are influencing it.
He said it has been reported that the purview of the contempt of court charge is expanding, if so, that will affect press freedom.
“A vile campaign has been launched lately, maligning the reputation of the Prothom Alo editor, we all should unitedly protest against it,” he said.
President of the Federal Union of Journalists Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the parliament and the media have their due roles, and if anyone fails to carry out the duties, that person or institution could be criticised, but with due respect.
“The media must be objective. Otherwise, vested quarters will interfere with its independence,” he said.
People with money, who are not professional journalists, are now becoming editors of news outlets, the ultimate result of which will not be good, he added noting, unlimited infusion of capital in the media industry could create bubbles, and that would affect journalists in the future.
Political considerations in issuing licenses could destabilise the media, he cautioned.
The News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed echoed Iqbal Sobhan on the point, saying, the same is true for cancellation of licenses as well.
“This eventually creates self-censorship in the media,” he said, suggesting that there should be a policy on the electronic media. Ethical and professional standards could ensure 80 percent of the media accountability, he said.
CEO and Editor-in-chief of Boishakhi Television Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the audience of both politicians and journalists is the people. Conflicts between the two arise when they deviate from their responsibilities, he added.
Since the opposition party does not go to the parliament, the news media has to play the role of opposition to a certain extent, and that makes the government think the media is favouring the opposition, he said.
Some journalists nowadays are however influenced by money, while there are signs that the same is true for members of the parliament as well, he added. Strengthening media related institutions could solve some of the problems in the media to an extent, he said.
ABC Radio Head of News and Programme Salahuddin Lablu said the electronic media remains under constant threat of shutdown, as the outlets have to renew licenses and frequency allocation periods every year.
Channel i Head of News Shykh Seraj said orders have been issued that private TV channels must telecast state owned BTV’s news, which is quite unreasonable.
New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said the media as a whole has been playing a much better role than the politicians.
He said some newspapers published reports provided by the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) accusing politicians without incorporating what the accused had to say, during the last caretaker regime.
Nasty discussions take place in the parliament regarding the media, judges go beyond their jurisdictions to send journalists to jail on charges of contempt of court, the executive branch of the government also represses the media, if all three branches of the state act like that then the media falls into a crisis, he added.
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman said the media is the fourth column of the state. Most of the news media outlets in the country are in favour of the liberation war, secularism, and freedom. The media keeps the government accountable by pointing out its mistakes. The media’s accountability is to its audience, he said.
The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam suggested forming an editors’ forum to improve the ethical and professional practices in the media, and requested the information minister not to frame any media policy without inputs from journalists.
The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam endorsed the proposal, saying a strong media is vital for a democratic society.
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad said he will convey the concerns of the media personalities to the prime minister.
Columnists ABM Musa, Syed Abul Maksud, and Muhammad Jahangir; Nayadiganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Dhaka University Journalism Department Chairperson Giti Ara Nasreen, Amader Somoy Editor Nayeemul Islam Khan, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutt, Machranga Television’s Head of News Shah Alamgir, ATN Bangla’s Chief News Editor J E Mamun, ATN News channel’s Head of News Munni Shaha, and Daily Korotoa Editor Mozammel Haque also spoke.

 

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more