Hurdles even stiffer for journos at grassroots

Pressure from politicians, police, local administration and criminals are the major obstacles to journalism at the district and regional levels, editors of some regional newspapers said yesterday.

Journalists often receive death threats and face harassment for publishing news on corruption and anomalies while their newspapers get a fewer number of government advertisements, one of the main sources of their revenue, they said at a roundtable at The Daily Star Centre.

They called for a broader unity and coordination among the editors in the capital and other districts to overcome the common challenges facing all.

The roundtable titled “Challenges before Regional and District Newspapers: Problems and Way Forward” was organised on the occasion of the 26th founding anniversary of The Daily Star.

Twenty-five editors and publishers from different districts and three editors of national dailies attended the meeting.

Earlier on Wednesday, The Daily Star honoured the 25 for their contribution to flourishing journalism in the country's rural and urban areas.

Addressing the roundtable, the editors stressed the need for improving professional skills through training and coping with the fast-growing technological advancement through holding interactive sessions with professionals from different sectors.

“We regularly face pressure and threats from criminals, political leaders and police after publishing news on their corruption and misdeeds. This leaves us insecure,” said Ekram-ud-Daullah, editor of Dainik Kalyan, Jessore.

Two well-known journalists were killed in Jessore in the last several years, but justice has been denied as the murder cases have been “politicised”, he added.

Sardar Al Amin, editor of Chuadanga-based Daily Mathabhanga, said there were instances that regional papers had to run “prescribed reports” due to pressure from certain quarters.

“Most of the time, we remain under pressure. Still we try to hold our head high,” he said.

Mobinul Islam Mobin, editor of Dainik Gramer Kagoj of Jessore, said pressure from influential quarters and threats of implicating in false cases over running reports on anomalies were quite usual in his district.

Fazle Alahi, editor of Rangamati-based Dainik Parbatya Chattagram, said two journalists were killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region since 1989, but justice was not served in the cases.

“It is sad that we don't get justice for any killing in the hill districts,” he said, adding that he does not expect justice would be done for the murder of two journalists.

Saying that revenue is an important aspect of a local newspaper, Akbarul Hasan Millat, acting editor of Dainik Sonar Desh of Rajshahi, said the local administration stopped giving ads in his paper for running reports on corruption and anomalies.

MA Malek, editor of the Chittagong-based Dainik Azadi, said regional newspapers need to continue running reports on anomalies even if they were put under pressure.

“What else I would write about if I don't write on the anomalies at my municipality?” he questioned.

Md Mozammel Haque, editor and publisher of Bogra-based Daily Karatoa, said journalists have to look at the “news behind the news” while the media outlets have to recruit skilful newsmen which would help them improve quality of journalism and increase circulation.

AHM Moazzem Hossain, editor of The Financial Express, said various professional challenges would be there and the journalists would have to see those off through improving their skills.

Praising the roundtable as a good initiative, Matiur Rahman, editor and publisher of Prothom Alo, said the challenges faced by the regional editors were similar to those experienced by the newsmen in the capital.

Journalists would be under pressure from influential people and government bodies and would also face non-cooperation from them in getting information, he said.

“We have to move forward overcoming all the obstacles,” added Matiur, also the president of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (Noab).

He said the Noab would gradually include regional papers in the organisation as associate members in future.

Moderating the roundtable, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam said cooperation between regional papers and the Dhaka-based national dailies should be strengthened to overcome the threats facing journalists.

If the national and regional papers publish reports on harassment of journalists simultaneously, it would create more pressure on the authorities concerned and help journalists get justice promptly, he observed.

Kyaw Thein Aung, editor of Daily Samudra Barta of Cox's Bazar; Dishari Chakma, editor of Hillbd24.com of Rangamati; Hasina Begum, editor of Daily Rupashi Bangla of Comilla; Pankaj Kanti Dey, editor and publisher of Sunamganjer Khobor of Sunamganj; SM Sanalal Bakshi, editor of Daily Kurigram Khobor of Kurigram; Aminul Haque, editor of Weekly Alapon of Saidpur, Nilphamari; Liaquat Ali, editor of Dainik Sonali Sangbad of Rajshahi; Mostafa Satez, editor of Daily Ichhamati of Pabna; Abdul Matin Khan, editor and publisher of Daily Jorebangla of Pabna; Muhammad Abul Kalam Biswas, acting editor of Daily Shirsha Barta of Manikganj; MA Jalil, editor and publisher of Daily Ajker Jamalpur of Jamalpur; Rezaul Karim Reza, editor of Daily Uttar Kantho of Natore; Sohrab Hossain, editor of Daily Mukto Sangbad of Gazipur; Nurul Alam Farid, editor of Dainik Biplabi Bangladesh of Barisal; KM Enayet Hossain, editor of Daily Rupantar of Patuakhali; Jahangir Hossen Monju, editor of Dainik Shatakantha of Jhalakathi; and Md Matiur Rahman, editor of Daily Uttar Bangla of Dinajpur, were present.