There Is No Govt Pressure On Media: Adviser Nahid

Information and Technology Adviser Md Nahid Islam has said there is no government pressure on the media, encouraging them to use their freedom to report objectively.

Stressing the need for a free flow of accurate information, Nahid highlighted the media’s role in combatting rumours and misinformation, during a discussion with editors of daily newspapers at the ministry on Tuesday.

“Due to a lack of widely available accurate information, people are frequently misled by rumours and fake news. The media must take a leading role in preventing the spread of misinformation,” he said.

Reflecting on the role of the media in the recent Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, he said: “The sacrifices of those martyred and injured in student and public uprisings should be honoured in the media. It is the media’s responsibility to ensure their stories are preserved in public memory.”

Recalling the previous government’s tenure, Nahid said: “Many journalists could not publish the truth out of fear during that time, but that era has ended.”

He urged journalists to expose instances of corruption, disappearances, and other wrongdoings from the former regime.

Welcoming constructive criticism, he added: “The interim government believes in media freedom and expects the media to play an effective role in delivering accurate information to the public.”

Discussing reforms, the adviser said: “The government has already formed a commission to address media reform, and changes will be implemented based on its report.”

During the meeting, editors acknowledged that there is currently no government interference, which they see as a positive step for independent journalism.

They also said if the media had played its role responsibly over the past 16 years, the rise of authoritarianism in the country might have been prevented.

Additionally, they requested a separate policy for English-language newspapers to support diverse perspectives in journalism.