Greater unity can save journalism
23 May 2021
Press freedom in Bangladesh is at stake now, so is investigative journalism. The recent happenings centering Rozina Islam, a senior journalist of Bangla daily Prothom Alo, who is famed for her investigative reporting against corruption, is a crystal clear incident of endeavors to suppress the mass media.
This assessment came at a webinar on Saturday organized by the Center for Governance Studies- CGS titled 'Press Freedom and Public Interest'.
Julhas Alam, Bureau Chief of the Associated Press in Bangladesh, said ''The Official Secrets Act was unprecedentedly applied against Rozina Islam. It is not new that journalists face situations like this round the world. Even in the USA and UK, journalists face different types of barriers. We also have to go through this reality. So, a stronger unity of journalists can help face this situation.'' Zahirul Alam, Chief News Editor of privately-run television NTV, echoed Julhas Alam and said, ''The environment of investigative journalism has shrunk, so is our capacity. The investigative journalism is now in jeopardy.''
Criticizing leader of the journalists' community he said, ''We need to forge a greater unity among ourselves.'' Zahirul Alam noted that mushrooming of media or press was not very conducive to a good health of the mass media in the country.
Almost similar views came from M Sheb Chowdhury, Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Asian Age. He said, ''Owners of different media outlets in our country use it as a weapon to expand their other businesses. Guidelines and ideals of journalism will not be protected in that environment. So the purpose of the owners have to be settled first.'' ''The mass media is passing through a difficult time across the globe. Media houses in our country are not aware on how to survive in this situation,'' he added.
Sheb Chowdhury went on to say, ''The issue of Rozina Islam is not new. Similar incidents happened during the regimes of Ershad and Khaleda Zia and many journalists were forced to flee the country. So, a greater unity among journalists and owners of different media outlets at home and abroad is a must to address crises.''
Shyamal Dutta, Editor of Bangla daily Bhorer Kagaj expressed frustrations over the danger of press freedom and said, ''The owner of different outlets are using the mass media as a shield. Some Editors are helping them, which is very unfortunate.''
''Journalists are divided like politicians,'' he added.
Executive Director of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association- BELA Sayeda Rizwana Hasan and Chairman of the CGS Dr Manjur Chowdhury also spoke at the discussion.
Noted television anchor Zillur Rahman, also the Executive Director of the CGS, moderated the webinar.