Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman has criticised attacks on media institutions during the tenure of the interim government, describing the incidents as "rare in the history of the world," while The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam warned that the failure to ensure independent journalism contributed to the downfall of previous governments.
They made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of the two-day Bangladesh Journalism Conference at Radisson Blu Water Garden in Dhaka on Friday.
Iftekharuzzaman said several incidents involving attacks on media organisations had taken place since August 2024.
"The way two established media institutions have been attacked is rare in the history of the world," he said.
He alleged that despite prior indications of the attacks, the interim administration failed to take effective preventive measures.
"The attacks were mostly announced beforehand. Law enforcement agencies were present on the ground, and even members of the army were there, but they did not take effective action, which is very sad. These incidents send a negative message," he said.
He also criticised sections of the media community for endorsing such incidents.
"After these attacks, some well-known lawyers, activists and even media personalities expressed satisfaction," he said, adding that the conference would discuss both internal and external challenges facing the media sector.
Referring to global data on journalist safety, he said more than 500 journalists had been killed worldwide over the past decade while carrying out professional duties.
"Since 7 October 2023, many journalists have lost their lives in the conflict in Palestine.
Journalists also continue to face threats and violence in countries across South Asia, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said, stressing the need to address insecurity and occupational risks faced by journalists.
Mahfuz Anam said independent journalism was essential for democratic accountability and institutional stability.
"One of the reasons behind the fall of previous governments was their failure to allow independent media to develop," he said.
He emphasised the importance of investigative journalism, describing it as central to democratic governance.
"The future of Bangladesh lies in investigative journalism. However, there was not enough investigative journalism in the past. It is still limited now, and whether it expands in the future depends largely on the role of editors," he said.
Mahfuz Anam further observed that "strong editorial institutions and independent journalism are prerequisites for investigative reporting," but added that "unfortunately, our media institutions have not yet reached that level."
He also criticised the politicisation of journalism in Bangladesh.
"We often become politically aligned while doing journalism. Under one regime, a section of journalists supports the government and dominates leadership positions, while others remain marginalised. When the regime changes, the leadership pattern also changes," he said.
