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Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam has said the “politicisation” of the media that occurred during the regime of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League is at the core of the “disenfranchisement” of journalists.
The media was, in his words, “used as a tool to generate consent” for the killings, disappearances and murders that took place during the party’s 15-year rule, reports bdnews24.com.
Speaking at a seminar, titled “Murder and Persecution of Journalists during the Fascist Regime”, on Monday, he said: “The media was the tool to generate consent for Sheikh Hasina’s demonic rule. And the politicisation of the media is basically the enemy of journalists.”
“Journalists should realise this with importance – the politicisation of the media is basically the source of journalists’ lack of rights… And the media was created for this purpose,” he said.
Mahfuj also said the media outlets approved during the Awami League government will be put under the scanner.
He said, “We will investigate very soon how those media outlets were licensed. When and how they were approved, and based on this approval, how did they take a stand against the people of Bangladesh and create fake journalists.”
Mahfuj suggested, “If you want to create positive competition, quality and professionalism, you must get rid of the bad apples.”
Mahfuj also said professional newspapers would see more opportunities in future.
“The opportunities for newspapers which are sold should be increased. For them, we will try to increase the benefits granted by the DFP [Department of Film and Publication] based on the circulation of the newspaper. We will increase the rate of advertising.”
Urging journalists to maintain professionalism, he said: “We do not want you to write for this government. Question the government. I think that if you question the government, the government does more work.”