Editors called for concerted efforts to protect journalism free from digital surveillance. The speakers made the call at a discussion on ‘World Free Media Day: Journalism under Digital Surveillance’ organized by the ‘Editorial Council’ at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Saturday, May 14.
AK Azad, Chairman of the executive committee of the Newspapers Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and publisher of the daily Samakal, said the digital security law had put pressure on the freedom of the press. Now the skilled, capable and courageous journalists are not seen as before. There is a lack of talent and courage. So we will work together for the development of journalism.
Shyamal Dutt, vice-president of the council and editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj, said that not only digital surveillance, but any kind of surveillance does not lead to free journalism. We have to stand together to do journalism in the digital age. Otherwise the practice of free journalism is not possible.
Omar Farooq, President of a fraction of BFUJ, Golam Rahman, editor of the Daily Ajker Patrika, and Akhter Hossain, general secretary of the DUJ also spoke among others.
Speaking on the occasion, former president of BFUJ Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said that there are legal complications in the country in the field of free journalism. There are no laws, including the old law and the new law – in all three cases there are barriers to free journalism. There is no law – meaning those who work in television are not legally involved in journalism and have no legal recourse. Old law – that is, the old law is being applied as it is needed. As happened in the case of journalist Rozina Islam. New law – that is, free journalism is being hampered by new laws. Section 54 of the First Special Powers Act to control newspapers, Later, Section 57 of the Digital Security Act became an obstacle. We protested against those laws. But in the case of the new law, the situation has not changed. Therefore, by jointly campaigning on the three steps of the law, we can discuss with the concerned people including the Attorney General and the Law Minister to find out which laws are obstructing the press.
Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, treasurer of the editorial board and editor of the daily Manabjamin, said the country would not move forward if there was division among journalists. So we have to overcome the division. Now it is scary to write (in the newspaper). But we need a concerted effort to overcome that fear.
Nurul Kabir, editor of Daily New Age, said, “We have to overcome the situation through organized political and cultural movement.
In his closing remarks, Mahfuz Anam, President of the council and editor of the Daily Star, said, “I wonder why there are so many laws against journalists. What do we do that you have to tie up our hands and feet for? The development of journalism and the work environment of journalists must be ensured. To this end, we will combine all the legal frameworks to find out what laws are interfering with independent journalism.”