NOAB urges parties to pledge press freedom
Staff Reporter :
The president of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), AK Azad, has called on all political parties to make firm commitments to protecting press freedom and to include the formation of a Media Commission in their election manifestos ahead of the upcoming national polls.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “Reform in Bangladesh’s Media: Recommendations, Realities, and the Future” on Wednesday morning at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, Azad said that without institutional reform and political will, press freedom in Bangladesh would remain fragile. The discussion was moderated by Prothom Alo Executive Editor Sajjad Sharif.
“Your election manifestos should include a clause stating that the government will review media reports — acknowledge and correct what is true, and clarify what is wrong,” Azad urged political leaders. “This will not only enhance the government’s credibility but also make the media more responsible.”
He noted that while new governments often prioritise fixing the economy and improving law and order, freedom of the press tends to fall down the list. “At that time, when mistakes or corruption occur, you will no longer have the same spirit to uphold media freedom,” he warned.
Referring to the report of the Media Reform Commission, chaired by journalist Kamal Ahmed, Azad said: “If you take Kamal Bhai’s report and carry it forward — if you compel your political party to adopt its key points — then we can avoid repeating the mistakes of previous governments. Only then will the press truly be free.”
The NOAB president expressed deep concern about the state of journalism as a profession, saying that “talented students no longer want to pursue careers in journalism.” He described how journalists face insecurity on multiple fronts — from job instability and poor pay to the absence of basic healthcare support. “If a journalist or a family member falls ill, paying for treatment becomes a major struggle,” he said.
Azad also highlighted the worsening financial crisis in the newspaper industry. “Printing a single copy of a newspaper costs Tk 25–28, but it is sold for Tk 10–12. About 35 percent of that goes to hawkers as commission,” he explained.
“Without advertising revenue, newspapers cannot survive. When government ads are halted or payments are delayed, many papers face closure.”
He revealed that the government still owes newspapers more than Tk 1 billion (100 crore) in unpaid advertisement bills. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when stimulus packages were provided to various sectors, the newspaper industry was excluded,” he said, calling this a sign of official neglect.
Turning to the issue of journalists’ safety, Azad lamented that those engaged in investigative reporting face threats, harassment, and even violence. Citing the murders of Faridpur journalist Gautam Das and a photojournalist in Sirajganj, he said, “District-level journalists still live in constant danger of bodily harm and false cases.”
Azad concluded by stressing that defending press freedom serves the broader national interest. “If we can preserve press freedom, it will benefit not only journalists but also future governments,” he said. “True democracy can only be strengthened when political parties genuinely cooperate with the media.”