Bangladesh Nationalist Party standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said that the country鈥檚 ongoing crisis would deepen with any further delay in restoring the democratic order through a credible electoral process.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the founding anniversary of Dhaka Reporters Unity, he said that media freedom and democratic order were deeply interconnected.
Khasru observed that pressure on the media tended to increase as democratic structures weakened.
He further said that meaningful reforms could take place only under a government that was genuinely accountable to the people.
Neither policy statements nor administrative聽 changes can ensure fundamental rights 鈥� including media freedom 鈥� without a democratic framework, Khasru commented
鈥楧emocracy and the media work hand in hand. As long as democratic institutions remain weak or absent, pressure on the media will increase and its ability to serve the public interest will be undermined,鈥� he said.
The BNP leader highlighted the importance of constructive interaction between politicians and the media, saying that such engagement was essential for upholding democracy and ensuring national prosperity.
He said that politicians must demonstrate tolerance and refrain from reacting angrily to media criticism.
Instead, politicians should set an example by allowing the media to operate freely and without obstruction, Khasru suggested.
