The Bangladeshi government plans to seek the United Nations’ assistance in investigating the role of journalists over the past 15 years, according to Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
Speaking on Friday at the inauguration of the “July Uprising Memorial Hall” at the Chattogram Press Club and a discussion titled “Bangladesh After the July Uprising: Challenges for the Media”, Alam said the government wants the UN to form an independent panel to assess how journalists operated during this period and what narratives they promoted.
“We want a neutral assessment report. People deserve to know what really happened during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year tenure,” he said.
Alam emphasized that the media in Bangladesh currently enjoys unprecedented freedom. “Anyone can write anything. The government is not interfering, silencing voices, or shutting down presses,” he added. However, he also criticized past journalism practices, particularly before the July uprising, saying that similar conduct in another country could have led to the closure of media outlets. He accused some journalists of fabricating narratives around enforced disappearances, calling it a “horrific crime.”
Addressing the present media environment, he stated, “This is the best time for real journalism in Bangladesh. We are not muzzling anyone. We welcome criticism—journalists should point out the government’s mistakes.”
Regarding the dismissal of three journalists, Alam denied any government involvement. “We neither fire nor hire journalists. But those protesting their dismissal should demonstrate outside the TV stations responsible,” he said.
He also expressed concern about misinformation spreading via videos and alleged that Indian media and some Awami League affiliates are collaborating to circulate false narratives, especially ahead of upcoming elections.
The event, moderated by Sale Noman, General Secretary of Chattogram Metropolitan Union of Journalists’ (CMUJ), featured several notable speakers including Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, acting president of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, and General Secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury.
Other speakers included Dr. Shahidul Haque, Associate Professor and former chairman of the Department of Communication and Journalism at the Universtiy of Chittagong, Premier University Vice Chancellor Dr. Nasrul Qadir, and representatives from legal, academic, and civil society groups.
