In an exclusive interview with Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka Tribune’s Muhammad Ibrahim Mojid delved into the government’s strategic election plan, the future trajectory of the Awami League, and the current state of the Bangladeshi media landscape.
Shafiqul Alam provided insightful perspectives on these critical issues, shedding light on the administration’s vision and the challenges ahead.
Dhaka Tribune: What steps will the interim government take to ensure a free and fair election, given past allegations of manipulation?
Shafiqul Alam: Ensuring a free and fair election heavily depends on the reforms we implement. We are currently reforming the Election Commission and have formed a committee for electoral reforms. It will submit its report soon, which will include proposals for essential reforms that we will implement.
This government is neutral and independent, and we are committed to making this election free and fair. We are treating everyone equally and are not being partial to anyone.
In many countries, the goodwill of the incumbent government is crucial for conducting a free and fair election. We have that goodwill and are prioritizing urgent tasks to ensure this.
Neutralising the civil and police administration is important to ensure their impartiality and prevent election rigging. We are also working on this.
We are committed to providing a level playing field for all political parties. Large parties often have an advantage, which can lead to feelings of injustice among smaller parties. We will ensure that everyone has a fair chance to campaign.
The biggest challenge on election day is maintaining law and order and creating an environment where people, especially young voters who haven’t voted in years, can cast their votes happily. We will ensure this.
What is the future of the Awami League? Will it be allowed to participate in the election or face a ban?
We have not undertaken the project of bringing anyone to the election. The Awami League will decide its own future. From the top leadership, many members have blood on their hands due to the killings in July-August. They are now making fabricated claims and trying to question the July movement. If they continue, the people of Bangladesh will not forgive them. We will bring all those with blood on their hands, whether low-level or high-level leaders, to trial.
People hold grudges against them not only for July-August but for many reasons. Thousands were victims of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The BNP claims that 50-60 lakh of their members were victims of fake cases by the Awami League, destroying their lives and preventing them from getting government jobs.
The kleptocracy they have built needs to be addressed, and those involved must be brought to trial. The government will not ban any political party; this will be decided by the next political government.
Regarding this issue, Ali Reaz sir (political scientist and writer, currently serving as the head of the Constitutional Reform Commission) mentioned in his New York Times article that when Germany was being reconstructed, did people discuss with the Nazis?
When you were at AFP, how did you break the news about Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country?
On that day, I called someone at Ganabhaban around 12:30pm, just 10 minutes after Sheikh Hasina fled. I asked if she was there, and the person confirmed she had left. The source didn’t want to be quoted, which made me cautious. What if I reported her departure and it turned out to be false? I could face jail or sedition charges.
To be sure, I called the person again and contacted another source, who also confirmed. However, neither wanted to be named. I submitted the report to the regional bureau chief, who was also unsure about publishing it. We decided to go ahead, accepting whatever consequences might come. After publishing, I was nervous, anxiously waiting for official confirmation. All local news outlets, our clients, were running the story: “Sheikh Hasina fled to India,” attributed to AFP. I was frozen with tension for half an hour.
Then, around 2 or 2:30pm, ISPR issued a statement that the Army chief was meeting with political parties and would address the nation. We were relieved, knowing she had indeed left. This is the story behind the story.
You’ve criticized the Awami League for suppressing news. How much media freedom exists now, and how will the interim government protect it and ensure journalists aren’t harassed?
I believe there is complete media freedom in Bangladesh now. Claims to the contrary are false. We haven’t imposed any restrictions or interfered with newspapers. We haven’t created a hostile environment for the media.
We’ve instructed our security agencies not to pressure the media or make any coercive calls. They can communicate with media personnel if necessary, but not to influence news or personnel decisions. This contrasts with the previous government’s approach to suppress media freedom.
We are not enforcing any hostile laws against the media. Instead, we’ve formed a media reform committee to review and amend restrictive laws. They’ve identified 32 such laws, some of which are being scrapped or amended to create a media-friendly environment.
We consistently emphasize the government’s goodwill. Professor Yunus has encouraged editors to freely criticize us, as we rely on the media to highlight our mistakes and areas for improvement.
We recognize that while there may be negative press, there is also ample opportunity for excellent journalism.
Given the current economic challenges, what measures is the government taking to stabilize the economy?
The Awami League regime left us with a broken economy, with manipulated data on inflation, growth, and employment. We had to evaluate our true position upon taking over.
Initially, revenue was negative, but it has since turned positive. We’re working to quickly restore confidence in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the garments industry, which saw growth of 21% in October and 16% in November. We expect good growth in December as well.
The economy is showing signs of a rebound, with increasing imports indicating growing domestic consumption. We’ve established discipline in these areas.
In our four and a half months here, we’ve not only been fixing the broken economy but also setting a direction for future reforms to ensure smooth or increased growth.
We’re implementing labor reforms, with Prof Yunus leading significant changes. We’ve taken measures to attract foreign direct investment and build trust with multinational companies. We’re also pursuing global trade agreements with countries like Korea, Japan, and Malaysia, which will open new markets and boost growth. Additionally, we’re working to diversify our exports. There’s a lot to reform and much work ahead.
What is the government’s stance on strengthening international relations, especially with neighboring countries?
After Prof Yunus took power, he strongly advocated for the revival of Saarc, which hasn’t held a summit since 2014. He believes that reviving Saarc will improve relationships among South Asian countries. He has already spoken with leaders from the Maldives, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and India about this. However, India has reservations about Pakistan.
Prof Yunus is working to overcome these challenges, inspired by the European Union’s model of regional cooperation.
India shares a long border with us, and there is much speculation about our relationship. We aim to improve our ties with India, recognizing that their economic growth benefits the entire region. We seek more economic cooperation and increased trade with India, as it can be a valuable market for us.
We want a relationship with India based on equity, fairness, and respect, which was lacking in the previous government. Mutual respect is essential, and we are committed to fostering a strong and positive relationship with India.
Will the government launch any English news channel to combat misinformation?
The government does not plan to start an English news television channel. If we did, it would likely become biased, filled with government affiliates, and lose quality. Bangladesh has a good market for quality English TV, so we prefer the private sector to handle it.
Our stories often don’t reach the global audience, leading to misconceptions about Bangladesh. Bangla TV caters to the domestic audience, but an English TV channel would allow people from other countries to watch and understand us better. This is crucial for building trust and combating false narratives.
We have an English-speaking generation capable of reaching a global audience. The leaders of our uprising are unknown internationally, and it’s important to share their stories. Some fabricated claims, like being linked to Hizbut Tahrir, arise from misinformation. An English TV channel can help correct these misconceptions.
Do BTV and BSS have the independence to report government corruption?
Yes, they do. They are welcome to report on any corruption within the government. Every country’s news agencies speak on behalf of their government, which is not unjust. You could question it if they were the only voice and others were oppressed, but we are creating an ecosystem where our voice is also needed. BSS and BTV carry the government’s voice, which is important for you to know.
We are not restricting them from doing any work. If they have stories about corruption, they are free to report them. We do not influence their recruitment policy. We want them to do fair journalism while also carrying the government’s voice. Private media is there to pursue their interests.
You’ve advocated for a minimum salary for journalists. What do you think it should be?
I don’t know the exact amount; that should be decided collectively by journalists. I speak as a former journalist, not as the Press Secretary. Our journalist unions have failed us, being sold out to the previous regime. We need new unions to raise their voices.
Entry-level journalists need a healthy salary due to the risks they take, which are often invisible. Writing against businessmen, politicians, or bureaucrats puts them at risk. Despite this, they are underpaid, even in big outlets, because the financial model is broken.
Rampant stealing of work is another issue. A good story can be stolen and republished under another name in minutes. Content protection and strict copyright enforcement are needed to protect big media. Small media that rely on stealing should cease to exist.
We want everyone to create good content and invest in quality journalism. Journalists should be well compensated. The exact amount should be decided by unions, leaders, and journalists together.
How does your role as AFP bureau chief compare to being Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser now?
At AFP, my routine was stable with no massive workload. International agencies like AFP only focus on big stories like natural disasters, major political incidents, and social trends. My life was predictable, and I could map out the stories for the year.
In my current role, we have to run a government, battling for the narrative every day. As a transparent government, we constantly need to demonstrate openness. Additionally, we have to combat disinformation from outside the country.
Will you return to journalism?
I want to return to journalism, focusing on writing books and long-form. Small stories no longer interest me, which is why I left AFP. Although my current salary is one-fourth of what I earned at AFP, I am enjoying my work here.
I also didn’t anticipate working as a political secretary alongside being the press secretary, but it’s necessary to address the wrongful acts of the previous government.