The Editors’ Council has expressed concern over the unwanted intrusion of security forces into media institutions, calling it a troubling development ahead of the upcoming national election.
In a statement signed by it President Nurul Kabir and General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud on Monday, the council said even during the interim government, a visible laxity by state forces and government authorities in ensuring the safety of journalists and media organizations has been observed. “This behavior of state institutions is becoming more apparent in the lead-up to the election,” the council noted.
The council cited the February 7 incident in which army personnel entered the office of a registered digital media outlet as a worrying example. It said, if there had been any disruption in the operations or news reporting of the institution, appropriate legal measures were expected to be taken.
Over the past administration, the council said, they have heard repeatedly for the past 18 months from the government, the army chief, and heads of various state agencies about efforts to restore the reputation of state security institutions. However, such incidents in the media send a negative message to ordinary voters and media personnel ahead of the elections.
The council also noted that in digital and multimedia journalism, an environment of partial lack of accountability has developed in some areas. Some unrecognized institutions have used this opportunity to spread misinformation, which, according to the council, is harming the overall fairness of the electoral process.
In this context, the Editors’ Council urged the government, security forces, and all media personnel to play a responsible role from their respective positions to ensure a democratic transition.