Hasnat Abdullah, convener of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has expressed strong anger towards the media.
He said that before August 5, the media followed the Defense Intelligence Directorate (DIGFI) prescriptions, and the headlines of news stories were determined by the Prime Minister's Office.
He said that when the media visited the Prime Minister's Office, their questions were often framed in such a way as if securing a plot in Purbachal was their priority.
There was a tendency among the media and journalists to lean towards the Prime Minister’s Office.
He urged the media not to be Prime Minister Office-oriented but to focus on the people.
He also expressed the expectation that the media would report the facts, which he claimed most media outlets failed to do before August 5.
Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, said: "We want a Bangladesh where there is no fear, where no one is forced to leave the country, and everyone takes pride in being Bangladeshi. We aim for a Bangladesh free from pollution."
Dr Mahadi Amin, adviser to the BNP's acting chairman, said: "We want a Bangladesh that has been missing for the last 16 years. We want a Bangladesh where freedom of speech exists, where transparency and accountability prevail, and where one does not need to belong to a political party for a job."
Actress Kazi Naushaba Ahmed expressed her desire for a Bangladesh where no artist would be impoverished.
She advocated for playgrounds in every area and emphasized the importance of the art of listening, where everyone's voice and opinions are valued.
Coordinator of Mother’s Call, Sanjida Islam Tuli, mentioned that most of the media had been silenced under government pressure in the past but many still reported despite the obstacles.
She emphasized the need to ensure media freedom in the new Bangladesh.
When asked about what she wanted in the new Bangladesh, Tuli said: "The law enforcement agencies should be obligated to respect citizens' rights and be clear about what they can and cannot do."
She further said: "First, the Awami League must be brought to trial. Our first demand is justice for the killings in July. We want to move forward with respect for the brothers we have lost."
Dr Mobashar Hasan shared his personal experience of being detained for 44 days in a cell seven years ago.
After his release, he felt like a refugee in his own country.
He expressed his opposition to fascism from abroad.
He further said: "In the new Bangladesh, everyone should respect human rights. Everyone, big or small, has a role in creating this new Bangladesh. I want to see a Bangladesh where if anyone attempts abduction, the people will resist, and humanity will be embedded in every layer of the state machinery."
The discussion was also attended by Professor Salimullah Khan, the mother of July Movement martyr Golam Nafis, Nazma Akhter, and the father of martyr Jahid Hasan, Jahangir Hossain, along with Benar News Bangla journalists.
