According to Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the interim government supports media freedom and wishes to see a thriving media landscape in Bangladesh.
“We believe in the freedom of media and we want to see vibrant media (in Bangladesh),” he said in a meeting with the editors of 20 leading newspapers at the State Guest House Jamuna here. Reporters at the Foreign Service Academy here were briefed by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder following the meeting. Apurba Jahangir, the deputy press secretary, was also present during the press conference.
According to Shafiqul Alam, numerous black laws and regulations that impede media freedom would be repealed or modified.
He stated that in order to guarantee media independence in the nation, numerous editors proposed the formation of a media commission during the conference.
About the reform in the state system, the press secretary said, the chief adviser recently held meetings with political parties and the political leaders asked Prof Yunus to complete the reform work within “a logical timeframe”.
He said Prof Yunus today wanted to know from the editors about how long the logical time should be. All editors agreed that the timeframe for conducting reforms should be at least two years while some others noted that the reforms the interim government is carrying out will determine the “logical time”, he said.
According to Alam, the chief adviser stressed that the opportunity for the state’s rehabilitation presented by the student-people revolution should be taken advantage of. In order to make the reforms viable, Prof. Yunus emphasized the importance of fostering national unity.
He claimed that the editors also discussed constitutional reform and the reform of the Public Service Commission and the Law Commission during the meeting.
According to the press secretary, the editors recommended that the cabinet take a more proactive approach and decentralize authority. They also emphasized the importance of calling a constitutional assembly to amend the nation’s constitution.
About the media freedom, he said, the interim government really wants vibrant media in the country and it will do everything possible to ensure the freedom of media.
In response to a query, Azad Majumder stated that the media is now free to carry out its duties with complete independence and is not under any duress.
Editors in attendance included Mahfuz Anam of The Daily Star, Matiur Rahman of Prothom Alo, Nurul Kabir of The New Age, Mahbub Morshed, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Saiful Alam of Daily Jugantor, Hasan Hafiz of Kaler Kantho, Dewan Hanif Mahmud of Bonik Barta, Enam Ahmed of The Business Standard, Santosh Sharma of Kalbela, Abul Momen of Dainik Amader Shomoy, Altamash Kabir of Daily Sangbad, Dainik Azadi MA Malek, Mustafa Mamun of Desh Rupantor, and Mustafiz Shafi of Protidiner Bangladesh were among those in attendance.
