Requesting the media to constructively criticize the government, the Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, "This government wants to set an example for everyone. If we have any mistakes or injustices, we say them out loud and write them down. Show us where you are making mistakes here. This is what journalism should be. It should be journalism that will hold every government to account."
He made these remarks at a discussion titled 'The Fascist Statement of the Media Under the Banner of Wanting a Fascist-Free Media: Looking Back at July 1-36' at the Zahur Hossain Hall of the National Press Club on Sunday.
Chaired by Joynal Abedin Shishir, the meeting was addressed by Dhaka Journalists Union (Party) President Shahidul Islam and Shibir's Publication Secretary Sadiq Kayem.
The press secretary said, "We want to build a new Bangladesh. There will be all kinds of voices here. We want to contain even those who criticize me very loudly. We all want to build a great Bangladesh together."
He said, "A few days ago, a big newspaper was writing a laudatory article about Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. We called them and told them that there is no need to write this. You give constructive criticism, there is no need to praise. We want you to highlight every issue. This is an important time for journalism in Bangladesh."
The Press Secretary mentioned that many media outlets and journalists played a good role during the July Uprising, saying, "In an intolerable environment, they did journalism ignoring the bloodshot eyes of the Hasina Shahi dictatorship, and gave an account of how many people died in the movement, because the real account was not yet available. Despite the obstacles faced by many newspapers, the phone calls of the DGFI on one day, the phone calls of politicians on the other, and the eye-rolling of the Chhatra League, Jubo League and Journalists' League, several newspapers did good journalism. We salute them."
Talking about police brutality during the Awami League era, he said, "At that time, the police used to commit atrocities, a large group of journalists on Facebook would make statements on their behalf, they would prove that the person needed to be killed, otherwise the country would not be able to move forward." The Press Secretary requested that a private initiative prepare a research report on these activities.
Requesting everyone to express their opinions in the National Consensus Commission, he said, "We want to build a Bangladesh where no one will create a fascist narrative. No one will blindly follow the party. Let's all build a country where everyone's voice can be heard."
Stating that the report of the Media Reform Commission may be submitted by the end of February, the Press Secretary said, "Every journalist group will discuss the report. We will see whether the freedom of speech is included in the commission's proposal. I hope we will get a new free media."
The press secretary said that during the July uprising, several TV channels called the students terrorists. He said, calling them all terrorists means legitimizing the killing of the students. But they did not protest with weapons. They protested with their hands, feet, and mouth, they took to the streets, but they were called militants and terrorists. It was terrible journalism.
Requesting those concerned to look into the past activities, he said, "The main reason for saying these things was probably a plot in Purbachal. A lot of money will come into the account. Some reports are also coming in. As a journalist, I saw that transactions worth over one thousand crore taka have been made."
