‘Past regime turned media into sycophants’

Daily Amar Desh Editor and National Editors’ Council (NEC) Joint Convener Mahmudur Rahman on Wednesday alleged that Bangladesh’s media sector was severely weakened during the previous regime, turning what he described as the country’s “fourth pillar” into an institution of sycophancy and undermining journalists’ ability to question those in power.

He made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of a two-day “Digital Journalism, AI and Fact-Checking Training” workshop organised by the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) at its conference room on Circuit House Road in Dhaka.

“The media has two fundamental responsibilities: informing the public and asking questions. The journalists’ right to question was turned into a mockery during that period,” Rahman told participants comprising reporters, editors, photographers, video journalists and digital content creators.

Referring to developments following the political transition, Rahman credited the interim government with taking initiatives aimed at revitalising media institutions and strengthening professional journalism. He praised the leadership of PIB Director General Faruk Wasif and Journalist Welfare Trust Managing Director Abdullah, saying their appointments had contributed to visible institutional changes.

Drawing on his nearly four decades of association with journalism, Rahman said Bangladesh’s media landscape was now facing a different challenge. He expressed concern over what he described as growing competition among some media outlets to criticise the interim government, arguing that criticism must be grounded in facts and professional standards.

He alleged that fake news was increasingly being published using the names of government advisers and warned that such practices amounted to yellow journalism. According to Rahman, responsibility for the spread of misinformation often lies not with reporters but with media owners and editors who shape editorial direction.

“The owners and editors like me are responsible for this. Journalists often work under the direction of owners and editors,” he said.

Rahman also raised concerns about ownership structures within Bangladesh’s media industry, arguing that many newspapers are controlled by powerful business interests. He said editors must demonstrate greater professional independence despite institutional pressures.

At the same time, he acknowledged the difficulties editors face in monitoring every piece of content published by large news organisations. Noting that editors remain legally accountable for inaccurate reports, he stressed the need for stronger verification mechanisms within newsrooms.

Against that backdrop, Rahman highlighted the importance of the PIB training programme, describing artificial intelligence and fact-checking as complementary tools for modern journalism.

“AI is the tool, while fact-checking is the method,” he said. “One is an instrument and the other is a process.”

The workshop, which runs from June 24 to June 25, focuses on the ethical use of artificial intelligence, digital content production, fact-checking techniques, open-source intelligence (OSINT), image and video verification, cyber security and newsroom verification workflows.

The first day features sessions led by Ariful Islam Arman, Head of New Media at Dhaka Post, on AI-powered journalism tools, Google Trends, NotebookLM, prompt engineering and Google AI Studio. The second day includes training by FactWatch fact-checker Ridwanul Islam and Fact Watch/The Disconnect Editor Qadaruddin Shishir on fact-checking, metadata analysis, geolocation, digital archives and cyber security.

The programme will conclude with a session on journalism ethics and fact-checking conducted by PIB Director General Faruk Wasif, followed by certificate distribution among participants.

Rahman said the future credibility of Bangladesh’s media sector would depend on journalists’ ability to combine technological skills with rigorous verification practices. He urged participants to use the training to strengthen professional standards and ensure that misinformation does not find its way into mainstream news coverage.

o Mahmudur Rahman said the media was weakened and turned into an institution of sycophancy during the previous regime.

o He warned against fake news and yellow journalism, saying media owners and editors share responsibility for misinformation.

o The PIB workshop aims to strengthen journalists’ skills in AI, fact-checking and digital verification.