Staff Reporter :
The Editors Council has recommended that the interim government remain in power for a period of two to three years to implement essential reforms before holding the national elections.
This proposal was put forward during a meeting with the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday.
The council also urged the government to repeal laws that facilitate the repression of journalists, advocating for changes aimed at improving press freedom. The suggestions were presented in a series of proposals submitted by the Editors Council.
Mahfuz Anam, President of the Editors Council and Editor of *The Daily Star*, conveyed the council’s stance to journalists following the meeting.
He emphasised the need for national unity and proposed reforms across various sectors, including constitutional amendments. Anam also called for an end to the filing of murder cases against journalists.
In response, Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser, Shafiqul Alam, confirmed that the Editors Council had proposed a two to three-year extension for the interim government to complete necessary state reforms.
Dr Yunus, in his address, underscored his strong belief in the importance of press freedom and encouraged the media to uphold transparency in their reporting, particularly in scrutinising the government. He highlighted the media’s role in aiding the government to correct its mistakes and ensuring that governance reflects public expectations.
The meeting notably addressed the repressive provisions of the Cyber Security Act. The Editors Council called for an immediate suspension of these clauses, especially those limiting journalistic freedom, with a view to reforming them in the future.
The delegation, led by Mahfuz Anam, included prominent editors such as Matiur Rahman of *Prothom Alo*, Nurul Kabir of *The New Age*, Zafar Sobhan of *Dhaka Tribune*, Saiful Alam of *Jugantor*, Tasmima Hossain of *Ittefaq*, Altamash Kabir of *Dainik Sangbad*, Mustafiz Shafi of *Pratidiner Bangladesh*, Shamsul Haque Zahid of *Financial Express*, Inam Ahmed of *The Business Standard*, and Santosh Sharma of *Kalbela*, among others.
