Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuj Alam today addressed as the chief guest at a function arranged to honor the families of the martyred journalists and injured media personnel in the July mass uprising at DFP auditorium. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 03, 2025 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuj Alam has said the country’s media should be accountable to the people and it must stand for the truth to restore its trust.

He said this while addressing as the chief guest at a function arranged to honor the families of the martyred journalists and injured media personnel in the July mass uprising at DFP auditorium here today.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam spoke as the special guest at the programme organized by Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust (BJWT) with its Managing Director Muhammad Abdullah in the chair.

A one-minute silence was observed in memory of the July martyrs at the outset. Later, prayers were offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls.

Laying importance on freedom of press Mahfuj Alam said if the media wants independence, they must be accountable. 

“None of those who licked boots of the dictator for 16 years have apologized to the people. We have not forced any media house to broadcast anything,” he said. 

However, in the last six months, many houses in the country have worked to undermine the spirit and unity of the mass uprising, he said.

The adviser said, “We are working on the 12 points of the Reform Commission. We are moving forward with the Journalist Protection Act, implementation of the Ninth Wage Board and others. We are trying to train and rehabilitate injured journalists.”

He also said the government is also working on making broadcasting policies while online policies are also being prepared. These will be implemented in the next few months.

Mahfuj Alam said the journalism, especially television journalism during the curfew was very much one-sided. One footage was shown repeatedly, he said.
 
“All televisions were busy with the narratives of Hasina. Her speeches were shown repeatedly on TV,” he said.
 
“I think the July mass uprising is just the beginning, the beginning of a new Bangladesh. But a new Bangladesh is not possible in one or two years. Rather, it is possible if there is a continuous struggle,” he said.

The adviser said some houses played a very good role during the movement. Many journalists showed courage, he mentioned saying not media houses but some journalists should get credit for this.

The information adviser said, opportunity will not come again and again. People cannot sacrifice their lives again and again. There is no reason for giving blood in every 20 years,” he said. 

Paying tribute to the frontline journalists, Shafiqul Alam said, July 2024 was the best time for journalism in Bangladesh. 

“However, at the same time we have seen worst journalism in July last year,” he said adding the month of July last year was the ‘best’ and ‘most terrible time’ in the history of journalism in Bangladesh.

Shafiqul Alam recalled names of journalists- Mehedi Hasan, Taher Zaman, Abu Taher Md. Turab- who  have given their lives in the professional field.

“But on the other hand, some journalists have gone to Ganabhaban and asked the head of government, why are you still not punishing them? Why are you not killing them? This is unprecedented in the history of the world,” he said.

He said a section of journalists deviated from ideology of journalism due to the greed for power, but the frontline journalists have not abandoned their spirit.

The revolution has been successful for the journalists in the field, the journalists in the districts, those who stood on the streets and captured their pictures and reported accordingly, Shafiqul said.

Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s Additional Secretary Md. Kawser Ahammed, Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Faruk Wasif, The Financial Express Editor Shamsul Haque Zahid also spoke at the event.

Principal Information Officer of Press Information Department (PID) Nizamul Kabir, Mass Communication Department Director General Faizul Haque, Department of Film and Publication (DFP) Director General Khaleda Begum were present.