PM has given assurance on protecting press freedom: AK Azad

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assured the media community that the government would support press freedom in the country, and so far, it appears that officials will uphold this position, said AK Azad, former president of Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB).

AK Azad, also the managing director of the Bangla daily Samakal’s publishing house “Times Media Ltd,” made the remark during an interview the daily Kaler Kantho.

The interview was taken during the “Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026” held at a hotel in the capital on Friday-Saturday.

Key excerpts from the interview are as follows:

Kaler Kantho: What is your opinion about the journalism conference?

AK Azad: It is a very timeworthy and important arrangement as Bangladesh continues to fall behind on the global media freedom ranking at a rate faster than we currently anticipate.

In this backdrop, views exchanges with foreign journalists, emboldens local media workers to keep fighting for exposing the truth. It also created space for the media outlets to hold dialogues with the government.

Kaler Kantho: The media sector stakeholders recently held talks with the prime minister on press freedom. Your take on this please…

AK Azad: On behalf of NOAB, we sat down with the prime minister in the third week of April. We held elaborate discussions on multiple issues plaguing the industry including press freedom.

We requested the prime minister to not obstruct independent journalism like previous governments. The PM listened to us patiently, and informed us that nothing will be done that curbs media freedom. Under the newly elected government, so far no such measure has been taken. We requested the premier so that the current scenario is maintained going forward.

He also assured of looking into the bail petitions of numerous journalists held over “peculiar” ties to the July Uprising atrocities. He also pledged to clear the dues of government advertisement bills owed to media outlets.

Kaler Kantho: In the conference you and others talked about undue pressure on journalists from the government and the media owners.

AK Azad: Look in the context of Bangladesh, when filing corruption or investigative reports, the alleged party often contacts the media house owners to bin the report. If they fail in the process, they resort to flexing their crony muscles.

We requested the PM to ensure that if a government agency or official is under radar, the law ministry is used for behind-the-scenes negotiations or dialogue – not security or surveillance agencies.

We told the PM that encouragement for honest and independent journalism will indirectly benefit the government itself.

Kaler Kantho: Coming to pressure on journalists, you also talked about the role of media house owners. Tell us something about this issue…

AK Azad: Look, the practice of linking journalism and news with the “owners’ class” is in itself a pressure on journalists.

Kaler Kantho: You also talked about putting the media houses you own under the management of a trustee board, as is common in many big countries.

AK Azad: When making the remarks, I personally had no intention of putting my houses under trustee management. But some in the conference, said that the trustee management strengthens press freedom. In this context, I said that I am ready to put one of my media houses under trustee board if worthy board members are found.

Kaler Kantho: Many experts talked about press freedom, security for journalists, financial independence and other issues affective independent journalism.

AK Azad: Noted speakers included Pakistani daily Dawn’s Editor Zafar Abbas as well as professionals from Canada’s Toronto Star, India’s Ananda Bazar, and UK-based BBC Bangla.

Kalet Kantho: An independent commission on investigative journalism was proposed… Your take please…

AK Azad: The NOAB leadership, with me as the then president, first submitted the proposal. We asked the interim government’s media reform body that such a commission is needed where the government would bear the half the expenses, and the media owners’ community the other half. This would be an autonomous panel simultaneously safeguarding the interests of the media workers, media house owners and the government.

The information has assured us that 70% of the work in this regard was completed, and that he was working on the remaining 30%.

Kaler Kanto: A code of conduct for journalists was also floated. How important is this?

AK Azad: I think too much work will cause complications. We only want an independent commission. The current press council is ineffectual and should be dissolved.

Kaler Kantho: What else should be done for protecting press freedom and unifying the journalists?

AK Azad: Like NOAB, the Editors’ Council is also active. But the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Reporters’ Unity are not so much united, thanks to partisan allegiances and divisions. I think members in these bodies should shun partisan activities and work for the journalist community.

Kaler Kantho: What is your assessment of the talks with the PM?

AK Azad: After the talks, we felt that this government will not repeat the mistakes the previous governments made by checking press freedom.

Kaler Kantho: Thank You for your time!

AK Azad: Thank you too!