Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today commented that journalists are compromising their independence by “going into the pockets of politicians themselves.”
Addressing a review of the Media Reform Report organised by the Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) at the China-Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center on Monday, the senior BNP leader urged media professionals to maintain distance from political influence.
“Here, journalists also need commitment. You must stay out of those places (the pockets of political parties). Practice courageous journalism,” Mirza Fakhrul stated.
Accusation of Supporting Fascism
The BNP Secretary-General further commented that political parties do not necessarily seek to put journalists in their pockets, but rather, journalists themselves initiate the compromise.
“Political parties don’t want to take any of you (journalists) into their pockets. But if you enter the pocket, then that becomes a problem,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul then went on to make a strong accusation against the media’s conduct over the last decade and a half, suggesting they actively supported the current system. “We have seen what happened in the last 15 years. We have seen that in the last 15 years, you (journalists) yourselves proactively supported fascism,” he added.
Call for Independent Reporting
Emphasising the foundational role of independent media, he remarked that a free press, journalism, and education system depend on the state’s structure.
He also pointed out the deep political division within journalist bodies: “You have so many unions, DUJ, BFUJ. Again, there are two or three divisions of two parties. You yourselves are becoming partisan.”
Mirza Fakhrul concluded by saying that Bangladesh is currently moving from a “fascist system towards a democratic system.” He assured the attendees that if the BNP assumes the responsibility of running the government through the mandate of the people, they would undoubtedly view the media reform commission report as a priority.
