Govt seeks stronger partnership with media sector

The government is moving towards significant reforms in the media sector, including the formation of a powerful Media Commission and measures aimed at improving journalists’ professional security, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said on Tuesday.

Addressing a discussion titled ‘Black Day of Newspapers’ at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital, the minister said the current democratic government wants to work alongside media organisations and journalists to address long-standing challenges facing the industry.

“During the fascist regime, the state used to turn a blind eye to the media, but the incumbent democratic government now wants to work as a real ‘collaborator’ in solving problems of media and journalists,” he said.

The event was organised jointly by the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).

Referring to the changing media landscape, Swapon said the industry must look beyond discussions centred on problems dating back five decades and instead focus on emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital media.

“The June 16 is the black day of newspapers. The crisis of the media and the black environment of the journalism profession have now become one. Therefore, instead of getting stuck in the discussion of problems of 50 years, we need to understand the new challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital media and find innovative solutions to those,” he said.

The minister linked the observance of the day to historical developments in 1975, saying that the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, introduced in January of that year, had undermined the original spirit of the great War of Liberation and established one-party rule.

According to Swapon, authoritarian rulers recognised that suppressing public opinion required controlling the media, which he said led to the formal silencing of newspapers on June 16, 1975.

“We need to read the biography of this virus of fascism that escaped in the past well, which will act as an ‘antivirus’ against any dictatorial mentality hidden in our own minds,” he said.

Highlighting the transformation of information technology, the minister noted that while printed newspapers dominated the media landscape 50 years ago, the spread of AI-generated content and social media has fundamentally altered how information is produced and circulated.

He warned that artificial intelligence is increasingly generating distorted information and that such content can now be disseminated around the clock through digital platforms.

Giving examples of the misuse of current technology, he said: “We need to understand and solve the technological crisis of artificial intelligence. Beyond this, there is no room for denying the reality of ‘citizen journalism’ spreading around the world, but rather it needs to be structured.”

Swapon said countries including Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) have already introduced legislation to address these developments.

The minister also stressed that media freedom depends not only on government policies but also on the conduct of media owners. He said journalists cannot operate independently if employers fail to ensure freedom within organisations, provide adequate salaries and allowances, and maintain a dignified working environment.

He added that the state has a responsibility to guarantee the professional financial security and social standing of journalists.

Warning media organisations about their obligations, Swapon said any media outlet claiming to be an industrial institution must operate in accordance with the country’s existing laws.

“At the same time, 100 percent security of employees must be ensured. However, the state will provide special incentives and cooperation to media that are only engaged in public welfare outside the profit-based industry,” he said.

The information minister said consultations have already been held with stakeholders, including the Editors Council and the Television Association, as part of efforts to develop reforms for the sector.

“Very soon, a strong ‘Media Commission’ with quasi-judicial powers will be formed, which will be the most powerful institution in post-fascist Bangladesh,” he said.

Swapon also advocated the establishment of a high-level policy-making forum within the government to regularly guide the Ministry of Information and support the implementation of commitments related to media freedom.

He said a media sector capable of continuously holding the state accountable through sound policies would help prevent mistakes by governments and keep the country on the right course.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the programme as the chief guest, while DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam chaired the discussion.
DUJ Acting General Secretary Didarul Alam Didar moderated the programme and BFUJ Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury presented the keynote paper.

Among others, speakers included Jatiya Press Club President Hasan Afiz, Television Editors Council Convener and Bangla Vision Editor-in-Chief Dr Abdul Hai Siddique, and Pratidin Bangladesh Editor and prominent journalist Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel.

BFUJ Vice Presidents Khairul Bashar and AKM Mohsin, Assistant Secretary General Dr Sadiqul Islam, Publicity Secretary Shahjahan Saju, Organising Secretary Erfanul Haque Nahid, and leaders of various journalist organisations also addressed the event.