‘Judiciary should protect freedom of speech, objective journalism’

Free press is under an onslaught from multiple spheres -- beginning from the legal system, to the corporate domination of media, to politicisation of journalists, said speakers at an event organised by Sampadak Parishad today.

"Protecting the interests of any individual or group is not the responsibility of a media organisation," said Syed Manzoorul Islam, former professor of English department of University of Dhaka University.

He was speaking at a discussion titled "50 Years of Bangladesh: Media Achievements and Future Challenges" at the CIRDAP auditorium.

"Newspapers are not a corporate entity," he said.

Shyamol Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj questioned whether owners of media houses are interested in seeing journalism flourish.

"They are there to protect their own interests. We need to analyse why the large houses enter the media industry in the first place," he said.

Mahfuz Anam, president of Sampadak Parishad and editor of The Daily Star, said, "I entreat to the owners, please understand that this industry is different. You maintain the quality of the products you manufacture. The quality of a newspaper is its credibility."

"Your journalists are not factory workers. They are independent thinkers. Your editors are not just employees. Their job is to defend the public interest," he added.

Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age, commented on how criticism of the government and its machinery is now considered seditious.

Sedition is being anti-state. "But now criticising the government is considered to be sedition. Submitting to them is akin to slavery," said Kabir.

The judiciary should protect the interests of freedom of speech and objective journalism, said speakers.

Mustafiz Shafi, acting editor of the daily Samakal, said that in this country a law like Digital Security Act cannot be accepted.

Saying that the judiciary and the media are protected by the constitution, Mahfuz Anam said, "Please revisit the laws that hinder freedom of expression."

How many cybercrimes have been stopped with the Digital Security Act, the chair of the programme asked, adding that a new law must be enacted that protects independent journalism.

The Press Council needs to be modernised and activated so that that they can deal with issues related to journalists, said both Dutta and Manzoorul Islam.

"It is never desirable for a journalist to go to court in order to defend the expression of his/her views in the interest of the country. An active Press Council might be the solution. It has to be made in such a way that everyone has confidence in it," said Manzoorul Islam

Speakers also denounced the politicisation of journalists.

"If journalists start getting into party politics then this will be a problem," said Manzoorul Islam. "We need to do some soul-searching."

He listed out multiple ways that partisan politics creeps into journalism, resulting in biased views. "Journalists sign up for political parties. There are many opposing journalists' associations, which make it difficult to realise demands from a unified platform. We have not been able to arrive at a satisfactory decision regarding the wage board yet, for example," he said.

The achievements of Bangladeshi newspapers are immense as achievement is magnified when limitations are greater, said the former DU professor.

"Even then, there are questions about how objective the newspapers of this country are in publishing the truth," he said.

Honorary Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, of the department of mass communication and journalism of Dhaka University, also joined the meeting virtually. He said there should be no division among journalists.

"Together, we have to ensure real democracy. Only then will the newspapers survive," Professor Sakhawat added.

MA Malek, editor of the daily Azadi, said that the main challenge of newspapers lies in retaining their readership at a time when independent journalism is being threatened.

Senior journalist Reazuddin Ahmed pointed out that a journalist can have no friends -- but the situation is such that at this moment everyone, including the government, is in opposition to free press.

Also present at the event was Matiur Rahman, editor of Prothom Alo. The programme was conducted by Dewan Hanif Mahmud, acting general secretary of Sampadak Parishad.