The country's mass media have been experiencing an unprecedented level of freedom over the past nine months, according to Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser.
Speaking at a seminar titled "The State of the Media After the Mass Uprising" at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday (May 15), he said that recent staff layoffs in some media outlets were decisions made by the owners for internal reasons, and not influenced by the government.
"There has been no interference from the government. Neither the Ministry of Information nor the Press Secretary's Office has ever obstructed the work of an independent press," he stated.
Alam emphasised that the government supports the institutional development of the media to ensure free expression of opinions.
Addressing the cancellation of over 150 accreditation cards, he admitted there had been a mistake, which is now being corrected. "Genuine journalists will soon have their cards reinstated," he assured.
Regarding the 266 journalists facing charges, including allegations of murder, Alam clarified that the government has not filed these cases. "Investigations are ongoing, and those not involved are not being harassed. Aside from a few isolated incidents, journalists are not facing any form of intimidation. We hope this phase will come to a close soon," he added.
He also stressed the need for social media guidelines for all media organisations. "It's important to differentiate between an individual's opinion and the official stance of the media. Personal posts on social platforms can affect journalistic integrity," he noted.
Alam concluded by affirming the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and freedom of media professionals.
