Interim govt must ensure media freedom: Mahmudur Rahman

Editor of Amar Desh newspaper Mahmudur Rahman today called upon the interim government to ensure media's independence within the tenure of its government.

"During fascist's regime, media, police and judiciary were largely manipulated by the then government. As a result, people could not trust media even now. To restore public trust, the interim government must take significant steps to ensure media freedom within its tenure," he said at a seminar.

He was addressing a seminar titled ‘Media Reform: Issues and Solutions’ at the Shafiqul Kabir Hall of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) here today marking World Prees Freedom Day-2025.

Editor of The Financial Express Shamsul Haque Zahid, member of the Media Reform Commission Syed Abdal Ahmed and Managing Director of Journalist Welfare Trust M. Abdullah also addressed the seminar, chaired by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by DRU General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel.

Mahmudur Rahman urged the interim government to include media as the fourth pillar of the state which was faded during AL regime.

He urged the journalists' leaders not to be politically biased to make media stand strong as the ‘fourth estate of the country.

“As long as the media remains politically aligned with any government, it cannot fulfill its role as the fourth estate," he said.

He emphasized that for the media to regain its rightful place as a pillar of democracy, journalists must remain free from political influence.

He called upon the government for strengthening the Press Council. He also demanded at least four-day holidays for journalists during the Eid-ul-Azha.

Mohammad Mia Hossain, Secretary-General of the Journalist Community of Bangladesh presented the keynote paper of the seminar, reports BSS.