The interim government strongly rejected the observation of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh over press freedom in the country.
‘We have gone through the remarks of the NOAB in their recent statement regarding the state of media freedom and access to information. We strongly and unequivocally reject the insinuation that the interim government has been responsible for undermining freedom of expression or media independence over the past year,’ said a statement issued by the chief adviser’s press wing on Friday.
The statement said that the interim government had not interfered in the editorial, operational, or business aspects of any media organisation.
‘In fact, the government has exercised exceptional restraint, even in the face of misinformation and politically motivated broadcasts. Television talk shows and columns have frequently featured false and incendiary claims about this government. Yet, it has neither censored nor retaliated,’ it read.
The government has not filed complaints, suspended licenses even when provoked, and rather paved the way for some media that had been forcibly closed down by the past regime to republish or return to on-air, which clearly underscores its commitment to freedom of speech and a free press.
Contrary to claims of limited access, journalists have had open and direct access to the advisers of the interim government and special assistants of the chief adviser. No journalist has been denied interviews or briefings on account of their outlet or editorial stance.
‘We believe in transparency, and our conduct reflects that,’ said the statement.
The government claimed that NOAB’s criticism of the reformed accreditation system was not only misplaced but misinformed. The previous system was deeply compromised, with access passes falling into the hands of individuals with no legitimate journalistic function, some of whom were politicians, lobbyists, and opportunists using privileged access to influence policy unfairly.
‘We dismantled that broken structure and replaced it with a temporary pass system that ensures every bona fide journalist continues to have access to secretariat. This reform was not about restricting access but restoring integrity to a process that had been corrupted.’
The previous accreditation policy made it obligatory for accredited journalists to sing to the tune of the government. The policy, which included some humiliating clauses contradictory to the constitutional rights of the journalists, has been amended by the interim government. The process of issuing fresh accreditation cards with extended renewal period is underway, the statement said.
The government is fully committed to the physical safety and dignity of all citizens, including journalists. As part of the government’s continued commitment to a safe and secure environment, earlier this year the Media Reform Commission proposed reforms including a new ‘Journalists’ Protection Law’ to enhance legal safeguards and reduce self-censorship caused by fears of government or security force intimidation.
‘While the government remains open to constructive criticism, it suggests that NOAB look internally before attributing blame. NOAB must scrutinise the actions of its own members and hold them accountable for the abuse of journalists, especially when it comes to wage exploitation, denial of labour rights, working in hostile environments without adequate protective gear, and alleged intolerable working conditions,’ the statement added.
