Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan spoke today as the chief guest at an Iftar party organized by the Chattogram Press Club, held at the Chattogram Club premises. Photo: BSS

CHATTOGRAM, March 4, 2026 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan today urged media professionals to jointly define the boundaries of accountability to ensure utmost press freedom, assuring that the government would protect the media from any form of state or non-state interference within that agreed framework.

“Once you determine those boundaries, the Information Ministry is prepared to ensure that no intelligence agency, state or non-state actor can interfere or create obstacles for the media within that framework,” he added.

The minister made these remarks while speaking as chief guest at an Iftar party organized by the Chattogram Press Club held at Chattogram Club premises.

State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin addressed the programme as the main speaker.

Addressing journalists and media owners, Swapan said the media is not formally recognized as a pillar of the state. 

However, alongside the judiciary, executive, and legislature, the media plays such a vital role that political science regards it as the fourth pillar of the state. 

He said the government wants complete freedom for the media and noted that ensuring media freedom was part of their electoral commitments. 

Their leader BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has repeatedly emphasized this issue, he said.

At the same time, he pointed out that freedom must be exercised within a framework of responsibility; otherwise, its benefits cannot be fully realized, said the minister.

If the government unilaterally defines the boundaries of accountability, he said, there would be no difference between the current administration and previous governments, he said.

The minister stressed the need for a jointly developed roadmap. “If we can institutionalize a truly independent media through such a roadmap, we will be able to achieve our desired goals,” he said.

He observed that there is currently no clear policy for the distribution of government advertisements. 

In many cases, allocation depends on favouritism or appeasement of the ruling party, he said. 

Similarly, there are no established guidelines for distributing government grants. 

He noted that many newspapers are being launched indiscriminately, and several media owners have called for proper policies in this regard. 

However, he cautioned that attempts to curb the emergence of new media outlets could raise concerns about suppressing media voices. “The state cannot remain a silent spectator in this situation,” he said.

Zahir Uddin Swapan also said the government is attaching the highest priority on implementing the Wage Board Award to ensure fair salary structures for journalists and newspaper employees.

 Newspapers that implement the Wage Board will be treated differently from those fail to do so. 

He added that the government is working to develop rules and regulations at every stage of the process.

In his speech, State Minister Mir Helal described the media as the mirror of the society. 

Describing media as “People’s Parliament” he hoped that media would always stand by democratic process and the democratic rights of the people. 

He also emphasized the importance of upholding the tradition of multi-party democracy,  introduced by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and expressed his expectation that journalists would continue to play an active role in supporting multi-party democracy in Bangladesh.

Lawmakers Shahjahan Chowdhury (Chattogram-15), Abu Sufian (Chattogram-9), Sayeed Al Noman (Chattogram-10), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, Jatiya Press Club President and Editor of Daily Kaler Kantho Poet Hasan Hafiz, The Daily Azadi Editor MA Malek, Chattogram Metropolitan Journalists’ Union President Mohammad Shahnewaz, senior Press Club member Moinuddin Kaderi Shawkat, The People’s View Editor Osman Gani Monsur, Senior Vice President of the Press Club Mustafa Naim, CMUJ General Secretary Saleh Noman, and student leader Riduan Siddiqui, among others, were present.

Chattogram Press Club President Zahidul Karim Kochi chaired the programme while General Secretary Golam Mawla Murad and Joint Secretary Mia Mohammad Arif jointly conducted it.