The Editors Council has submitted several proposals to the interim government, including the immediate repeal of laws enabling the persecution of journalists, with plans for future reforms.
The council submitted the proposals during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Tuesday afternoon.
During the meeting, Dr Yunus emphasised his strong belief in press freedom, urging the media to maintain transparency in its coverage, especially when critiquing the government.
Mahfuz Anam, president of the Editors Council and editor of The Daily Star, briefed journalists about the meeting outside the guesthouse.
Following the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy. Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir was also present.
Mahfuz Anam said that the council seeks to establish national unity and has proposed reforms in various areas, including the constitution. He also called for an end to the filing of murder charges against journalists.
The chief adviser emphasised the necessity of establishing a national consensus through their work, urging the editors to embrace diverse perspectives and boldly highlight the government’s shortcomings. He noted that the media’s role is crucial in helping the government correct its mistakes and ensure that governance reflects the aspirations of the people.
A significant concern raised during the meeting was the repressive clauses in the Cyber Security Act. The editors urged the immediate suspension of these provisions, particularly those that stifle journalists, with plans to reform them in the future. They also suggested establishing a media commission to safeguard media freedom in the country.
Regarding state system reforms, Shafiqul Alam reported that the chief adviser had recently met with political parties, where political leaders urged Prof. Yunus to complete the reforms within a "logical timeframe." Prof Yunus sought inputs from the editors on what this timeframe should be.
During the meeting, several editors suggested that the tenure of the interim government could be around two to three years. However, most editors emphasised that the tenure should be determined by the time needed to implement vital reforms, according to Shafiqul Alam.
Alam added that Prof Yunus highlighted the student-people revolution as a crucial opportunity for state repair and stressed the need for national unity to ensure the sustainability of the reforms. The editors discussed constitutional reforms and the need to reform the Law Commission and the Public Service Commission. They also recommended making the cabinet more proactive, decentralising power, and holding a constitutional assembly to redraft the constitution.
On the topic of media freedom, Shafiqul Alam assured that the interim government is committed to fostering a vibrant media environment and will take all necessary steps to protect media freedom. In response to questions, Azad Majumder confirmed that the media is currently operating without pressure and enjoys full freedom.
The meeting was attended by 20 notable editors from across the country, including Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mahbub Morshed, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Daily Jugantor Editor Saiful Alam, Kaler Kantho Editor Hasan Hafiz, Bonik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Editor of The Business Standard Enam Ahmed, Kalbela Editor Santosh Sharma, Dainik Amader Shomoy Editor Abul Momen, Daily Sangbad Editor Altamash Kabir, Dainik Azadi Editor MA Malek, Desh Rupantor Editor Mustafa Mamun, and Protidiner Bangladesh Editor Mustafiz Shafi.
