Deutsche Welle: Press freedom eroded after July riots, journalism armed by mob violence

As was stated at the beginning, there are not many pending cases against journalists now; however, the previous cases have not been resolved either. Journalists in prison are not even getting bail.

What kind of changes have occurred in the media in this one year? When asked, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, editor-in-chief of Dainik Manabzamin, told Deutsche Welle, “An unknown fear has gripped the minds of media workers. Many are losing their jobs or have lost them in the past. The reason is not visible. The agency does not have the power, others are very clever in their reporting. And many things cannot be written or said due to fear of mob terrorism. This is the state of change. However, at the moment, cases are not being filed against journalists in large numbers. In the beginning, there were many cases, many are in jail. It cannot be said that there has been a very dramatic change. The situation has changed a lot from before to now.”

Investigative journalism is not happening.

Senior journalist Anis Alamgir believes that there is no investigative journalism happening now. He told Deutsche Welle, “I think that the freedom of the press has been further reduced. There was a kind of fear during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. Now the government has no fear. But the government is not saying, write this, why did you write? No agency is monitoring the media. But the media itself is imposing censorship. There is a reason for that. Here, a kind of authority is being imposed on the media because of mob violence. They are a group supported by the government. They are extreme right-wingers.”

He said, “These extremists are looking for allies of tyranny in every sector. Those who question the government are being threatened with dismissal by labeling them as allies of tyranny, and their jobs are also being lost. 3-4 journalists have also lost their jobs because they questioned Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui. The mob has slaughtered cows in front of various houses before. They are creating pressure by holding banquets. As a result, real journalism is not happening. What is happening is daily reporting. No major investigation is being done. 5 people died in Gopalganj, the media did not do any humane report on them. Their bodies were buried without postmortem, and were later exhumed. Curfew was imposed for a few days, but the media did not ask questions?”

The first martyr of July – Chhatra League leader Sabuj; he was beaten to death by anti-government protesters

Fear of ‘mob violence’

Three journalists lost their jobs last April after questioning the interim government’s cultural adviser. Senior officials at the three organizations told Deutsche Welle at the time that they had taken “measures” against the three journalists primarily out of fear of mob violence.

Claiming that they had no direct or indirect involvement in the dismissal of the three journalists, Cultural Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooqui made an excuse, “The words spoken by the three journalists at the press conference, in a subtle attempt to deny the mass murder, can hurt any sensitive person who saw July. The mother who lost her child just 8 months ago, the child who was injured in the shooting, the sister-brother who survived the killing, the words of the journalists pierced their hearts like a shell.”

Political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman told Deutsche Welle, “Someone made a threat and the authorities took action – that’s not right. This will not be independent journalism, but rather the same old appeasement journalism.”

On December 18 last year, Hasnat Abdullah, the top leader of the anti-discrimination student movement (now NCP leader), along with a few others, met the managing director of City Group, the investor of Samoyed TV, and pressured them to fire him with a list of 10 names from the TV station. Later, after calling 5 people from that list and asking them to resign, when they refused, their resignation letters were sent to them on WhatsApp on the same day.

However, Hasnat Abdullah admitted to going to City Group but denied the accusations of being intimidated or given a list.

There are reports that a journalist from the Daily Jugantor was fired a few days ago for writing a report against the BNP.

Senior journalist Mustafa Firoz told Deutsche Welle, “In fact, the media is not independent in that sense. It is independent in word of mouth. If in reality the structure is subordinate or the previous rules are followed, then where is the guarantee that I am independent? You see, the media is narrow. In the existing channels, everyone is talking about the same ideology. There is no one with a different opinion. The owners do not dare to call them. Those who were in favor of the Awami League in the last 15 years are not being called. Either they are not coming for fear of the mob, or the owners do not dare to call them for fear of the mob.”

He said, “The way the channels have been attacked after the change, cows have been slaughtered in front of newspapers, has made everyone feel uncomfortable. The mob culture has not been stopped yet. Sheikh Hasina used to talk about independence verbally, and I still see that. But in reality, what is the guarantee that the previous situation will not return? As a result, it cannot be said that the media has effectively become independent.”

13 journalists still in prison

266 journalists have been charged with murder and attempted murder in the July riots. Thirteen of them are in prison.

In a discussion on the Free Press Day on May 4, Mahfuz Anam, President of the Editors’ Council and Editor of the Daily Star, said, “Currently, 266 journalists are facing cases for murder or violence-related crimes. How is this possible? It is a disgrace for us. This does not mean that no one has committed any crime. If someone has committed any crime, they should file a proper case and punish them and we will not stand by them in any way. But it has been 6-7 months now, they have been in these cases. Not a single step has been taken in the investigation.”

He further said, “The legal advisor said, ‘We have nothing to do, the people have the right to file a case’. I accept the right to file a case. But if a law is misused, will the government not do anything? That is my big question – those journalists whose names have been filed live in fear. They live in fear of mob violence. There have been one or two such incidents.”

Among the 13 journalists who are in prison, DW spoke to the family members of former National Press Club general secretary and editor of Bhorer Kagoj, former CEO of Ekattor Television Mozammel Haque Babu, former news chief Shakil Ahmed and former chief reporter and presenter Farzana Rupa. Among them, Mozammel Haque Babu is a cancer patient. Shyamal Dutta is suffering from sleep apnea (a complex respiratory disease that causes temporary cessation of breathing during sleep), according to the family. He also suffers from chronic diseases including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa are also unwell, according to their families.

How far has the implementation of the Media Reform Commission’s report progressed?

Last March, the Media Reform Commission submitted its report on reforms to Dr. Yunus. After submitting the report, the head of the commission, Kamal Ahmed, told Deutsche Welle, “We have also shown how these recommendations can be implemented. Now it is the government’s responsibility to implement them.” Regarding the implementation of the Media Reform Commission’s proposals, Dr. Yunus said that the government will do what can be done now quickly.”

Shamsul Haque Zahid, editor of The Financial Express and a member of the Media Reform Commission, told Deutsche Welle, “I was also there when the government formed the media reform commission. We made many recommendations. If they are implemented, a lot of independent journalism is possible. But I don’t know to what extent it can be implemented. I submitted the report, it’s been 4-5 months, and I don’t see any movement on it.”

He said, “Recently, the Information Advisor said he would take action on two or four recommendations. As a result, I cannot say for sure whether this report will ever see the light of day.”