No Free Media Under Political and State Control

Speakers at a discussion marking World Press Freedom Day observed that true media freedom in Bangladesh cannot be realised unless it is liberated from political influence and government control.
They stressed that greater unity among journalists is essential to safeguard press freedom, noting that such unity is the cornerstone of establishing an independent and fearless media.
The discussion was organised by the Rural Journalists Foundation (RJF) at a local restaurant to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The event was presided over by RJF Chairman SM Zahirul Islam, with former President of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Rafiqul Islam Azad, attending as the chief guest.
Earlier in the day, RJF held a procession followed by a human chain demonstration in front of the National Press Club at 10:00am.
Distinguished guests at the discussion included Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Executive Member Muhammad Abu Hanif; Editor of Daily Diner Alo Md. Fazlur Rahman Zulfikar; Editor of Daily Swadesh Bichitra Poet Ashok Dhar; Supreme Court Lawyer Khan Chaman-e-Elahi; Paltan Thana BNP leader Md. Fazlul Haque Moni; and Principal M. Shariful Islam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Education Observer Society.
RJF Secretary General Md. Sekender Alam Sheikh moderated the programme, while Senior Joint Secretary General Sajjad Alam Khan Sajal and Finance Secretary Md. Farukul Islam delivered the welcome speeches.
Other notable participants in the thematic discussion included RJF Vice Chairman Syed Al Amin Hossain Sohag, Mahbub Ara Dulu, Poet Zaman Bhuiyan, MA Sattar Majnu, Legal Affairs Secretary Sardar Md. Shah Alam, Literature and Publications Secretary Md. Sahidul Islam, Training Affairs Secretary Mohammad Hossain Himel, Office Secretary Nawab Saleh Ahmed, Co-Literature and Publications Secretary Poet Md. Mamun Molla, former Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary Md. Rezaul Islam, Women Affairs Secretary Urmi Rahman, Co-Information and Research Affairs Secretary Milan Mallick, and General Council Members Syed Omar Faruk and Md. Monir Hossain.
In the second part of the programme, honorary mementos were presented to three individuals in recognition of their significant contributions in various fields.