Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, a prominent journalist and critic of Sheikh Hasina’s deposed regime, has recently returned to Bangladesh after nearly a decade in exile.
In an interview with Dhaka Tribune, he expressed his excitement about coming home, saying Bangladesh “is my country; it’s a great relief to finally return.”
Based in Washington, DC, Mushfiqul works as the White House and UN correspondent for JustNewsBD, while also serving as the executive director of Right to Freedom and executive editor of South Asia Perspectives. His journalism, focusing on human rights abuses and election fraud, led to his exile in 2015.
Here’s a shortened version of his interview. Readers can watch the full interview on Dhaka Tribune’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
What was your first impression after hearing the news of the fall of the government on August 5?
It was very early morning in the US. Even the night before, during a live interview on BBC World, I said that this government had to go, no matter what. The BBC journalist had asked why students hadn’t returned home since the government had accepted their demands. I responded, “It has now become a single-point demand. The students want back the lives they lost for their cause, and no one can give those back. A head of government who can be so brutal toward her student population has no path to redemption. The only path forward was for Sheikh Hasina to step down.”
We held a candlelight vigil in front of the White House that day. Bangladeshi expatriate students from various universities across the US participated in the vigil.
That night, as I went to bed, my wife came to tell me that Hasina had fled. I experienced a rush of emotions — overwhelming, mixed feelings. Twice, I tried to express my thoughts on social media but couldn’t because I couldn’t hold back my tears.
Later, we all gathered and went to the Bangladesh embassy. I had been unwanted at the embassy for over 10 years. In fact, I feared going there, thinking I might face the same fate as Jamal Khashoggi - a Saudi journalist assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 by agents of the Saudi government.
How do you see the media’s condition regarding press freedom in Bangladesh over the last 15 years?
In Bangladesh, you technically had the freedom to speak, but there was no guarantee of what would happen to you after speaking the truth. You had complete freedom to praise just one person — Sheikh Hasina. There was no space for expressing free will beyond that. While Sheikh Hasina is to blame for this, the media, which wholeheartedly embraced and glorified her, is equally responsible for shaping her into such a monstrous figure.
Mainstream media, at one point, elevated Hasina to a level where she became untouchable. While they might have criticized government ministers or other officials, they refrained from criticizing her directly, perpetuating an autocratic atmosphere.
According to Reporters Without Borders, in the 2023 Press Freedom Index, Bangladesh ranked 163rd, even lower than Afghanistan, placing it at the bottom in South Asia. Sheikh Hasina was even labelled as a “predator” by Reporters Without Borders.
Misinformation and disinformation also ran rampant. For example, around 1,200 articles published by Bangladeshi media outlets were fake or non-existent, orchestrated by CRI and disseminated through the media. AFP did an excellent job of fact-checking and exposing this. The media cannot wash its hands of this responsibility.
Now, some media outlets are starting to offer advice to the government and opposition. But first, they need to look in the mirror. This is the hypocrisy of the highest order.
They played a significant role in enabling the government to become a monster. In many ways, the media itself is responsible for the erosion of press freedom in the country.
What should be done to restore trust in the media?
I believe the government should establish an independent commission to address the current state of journalism. This commission should comprise civil society members and media representatives who have demonstrated integrity and good journalistic practices. It should be tasked with investigating past issues, holding people accountable, and proposing solutions to ensure freedom of the press and fair reporting.
One clear issue is that media outlet owners seem to enjoy special privileges and freedoms, often becoming prominent figures in society. It’s common to see these owners travelling alongside the head of the government, issuing unethical directives to their reporters, and leveraging their influence. They lead luxurious lifestyles, driving high-end cars, while many reporters struggle to get by — some even unable to afford basic transportation, like bus fare.
This stark discrepancy within the media industry must be addressed. The commission should not only investigate issues related to freedom of the press but also tackle the economic inequality between media house owners and journalists. This is critical if we are to restore the dignity of journalism and ensure that those reporting the truth are treated fairly and ethically.
What could we expect from a future BNP government regarding media freedom?
Firstly, I cannot speak for the BNP because I do not represent them. At one point, cartoonists stopped drawing political cartoons. I appreciated how they created satirical cartoons about Tarique Rahman, and I noticed that BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman welcomed this.
That was when I realized there had been a shift — Tarique’s response reflected the kind of responsible behaviour expected from political party leadership.
When the BNP was in power, I remember economist Abul Barkat making significant claims about corruption, though his accusations lacked detailed evidence. Despite this, Abul Barkat never spent two days in jail. In contrast, after a report against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the editor of Daily Amar Desh, Mahmudur Rahman, was imprisoned.
I’m not suggesting that the BNP’s tenure was perfect. Even back then, local reporters were mistreated for publishing stories against ministers or MPs. However, these actions weren’t carried out systematically by the state.
What we witnessed in Bangladesh for the last decade, with enforced disappearances, killings, or journalists being jailed and tortured in court, was very different.
A free press is as essential for democracy as it is for any government.
