Media freedom key to building state: Swapon

Former information minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has stressed the importance of an independent and responsible media in building a functioning state and society.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the United News of Bangladesh (UNB) District Journalists’ Conference 2026 at the Cosmos Centre in Dhaka’s Malibagh on Saturday, he said the media was an important element of the social structure, with a significant reach and influence. “Its impact is very large when it does good, just as its impact is very large when it does bad,” he said.

He said the media had become one of the most important components of civilisation.

“If those who regulate the state and society think they can build a state and society without the media, without an independent and responsible media, that is impossible. Even if they want to, they can no longer do it,” he said.

He said such control might have been possible to some extent in the pre-internet, pre-digitalisation or pre-smart-device era, but it was no longer possible.

“As a citizen, I try to remain vigilant while performing any responsibility I have, because a state and society cannot achieve completeness in any way without an independent and responsible media,” he said. 

The outgoing information minister also spoke openly about journalists’ professional responsibilities, objectivity in news gathering, truthful and ethical journalism, yellow journalism and journalists’ salary structures.

UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan welcomed the participants and thanked the district correspondents for attending the annual gathering despite their busy schedules.- bdnews24