Nurul Kabir, the editor of New Age, has said that fascism did not start in 2013, but began in 1972.
He made this remark during a discussion titled "The Narrative of Fascism vs Media for the People," organized by “July Gonoparisar” at the RC Majumdar Auditorium of Dhaka University on Saturday afternoon.
Nurul Kabir said that after independence, freedom fighters with differing views were killed, and all but four newspapers were banned during that time.
He emphasized that the remnants of that period have persisted for the last 15 years.
Thus, he reiterated: "Fascism did not start in 2013; it began in 1972. We need to understand this history. Currently, journalists have a poor sense of history. Journalism students do not recognize figures like Asad, Bhashani, or Moni Singh. This is not solely their fault; they are not taught about them. The journalism curriculum must include unadulterated history."
Faruk Wasif, the director general of the Press Institute of Bangladesh, said that fascism cannot operate alone; it forms coalitions.
He described it as a monopolistic authority that creates a homogeneous middle class, a monopolistic business class, and a monopolistic media. To establish its position, fascism constructs various narratives, first elevating itself to a divine level while dehumanizing its enemies.
He also remarked that they portray themselves as victims, similar to how Israel presents itself.
Faruk Wasif further explained that fascism embodies a mentality of revenge, such as how Germans believe Jews caused their defeat in World War I, leading to a desire for retribution.
He mentioned that while they have pursued justice for the events of 1975, the desire for revenge stemming from the war crimes of 1971 has not faded.
Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to the chief adviser, claimed that the past function of the press office resembled that of a surveillance agency, focusing on how to suppress news.
He said the need for an open platform where journalists can freely express their thoughts. He emphasized that they do not recall ever making calls to suppress news stories and expressed a desire for institutionalization of media in the country.
Shafiqul Alam acknowledged that fascism can emerge in various forms and emphasized that there is no guarantee it will not. He insisted that all media outlets should exist in Bangladesh, but those who have engaged in dehumanizing actions must reflect on how they have attempted to silence the voices of a vast number of people.
The meeting also featured remarks from Mahbubul Alam, the Director General of Bangladesh Television, Golam Mortoza, editor of Daily Star Bangla, and Ayesha Kabir, head of the English department at Prothom Alo.
Associate Professor Khorshed Alam from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University presented the main paper.
