Staff Reporter: Today’s 07 May 2026: At a journalists’ demand rally organized by the Bangladesh Mofusal Journalists Forum and the Journalists’ Torture Prevention Committee in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon, May 7, to celebrate the National Media Week, the leaders warned that the rights and entitlements of journalists according to the constitution of the country must be explained in a loud voice. In the 55-year history of journalists, far from speaking about their rights and dignity, they have been deprived of everything. No government has come forward to improve the living standards of those involved in the journalism profession, but rather considers them as opponents. Governments always lull them to sleep with flowery words and the conscience of the nation. Journalists have woken up this time. They cannot be suppressed, their rights must be ensured. The government must listen to what journalists want on behalf of the state and take a responsible role in this regard. The state has a strong role in ensuring the skills, dignity and livelihood of various professionals in society. But the state is silent on the issue of journalists, which is sad. However, we welcome the fact that the government’s Information Minister is already talking about the list of journalists and the protection law. The Prime Minister and the Information Minister must listen directly to the problems of journalists. Listening to a handful of elite journalists will not do. According to some elite journalists and bureaucrats, the previous government had been starting the process of preparing a list of journalists for 7 years but could not bring it to light. You have heard the elite journalists so far, now listen to the journalists of 63 districts, what is their problem? What are their demands? The leaders said that the government must listen to the 14-point demands of journalists, including state recognition of the National Media Week. This will create a new history in the country’s media and journalism. Old-style journalism will not continue. The media must be declared a full-fledged industry. The government must formulate new laws and modernize the ineffective Press Council. The Ministry of Information must bring the media and journalist organizations under control and registration by forming the Information Commission. The country and the people cannot be confused by spreading rumors without fact-finding. This is what the Information Minister has already said in a meeting with journalists. The Minister also talked about formulating a journalist recruitment policy and a list of journalists. Which must be done quickly. The radish cannot be hung on the pretext of developing the journalism profession. In the past, attempts were made to silence the voices of journalists by enacting laws many times, let no one do it again. This government must take the initiative to implement them by listening to the demands of journalists as soon as possible, raising them in parliament. In this 55-year-old country, none of the demands and rights of the media and journalists have been fulfilled to this day. The leaders immediately called on the government to fulfill the 14-point demands, including state recognition of the National Media Week. The leaders said the above at a demand rally with the participation of journalists from all over the country.
The leaders immediately called on the government to accept their 14-point demands, including formulating and publishing a list of professional journalists, formulating a journalist recruitment policy, and enacting a journalist protection law.
Ahmed Abu Zafar, President of the Central Committee of the Bangladesh Mofusal Journalists Forum and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, presided over the event. Md. Omar Faruk Jalal, Member Secretary of the largest alliance of journalists Alliance of Journalists Organization and General Secretary of Bangladesh Editors Forum, Mostaq Ahmed Khan, Member of the Board of Trustees, Manjur Hossain Isha, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Association, Kabi Ashok Dhar, Secretary General of the Television Journalists Forum, Zahirul Islam, Chairman of the RJF, Sujan Mahmud, Secretary General of the Journalist Protection Foundation, Abu Bakar Siddique, President of the Journalist Torture Prevention Association, Mizanur Rahman Mollah, President of the United Journalists’ Alliance, Bithi Mustafa, Chairman of the Bangladesh Women Journalists’ Association, Abul Hossain, President of the Bangladesh Journalist Torture Prevention Forum, and Gazi Mamun, President of the Journalist Welfare Association, spoke as guests.
The rally was attended by the general secretary of the central committee of the organizing organization Bangladesh Mofusal Journalists Forum, Lion Md. Abul Hossain, vice-president Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, joint general secretary Khokon Ahmed Hira, joint secretary Nurul Huda Babu, co-editor Sabuj Hossain Raja, organizing secretary Omar Faruk Miyaji, Abdul Baten Bachchu, forest and environment affairs secretary Abdullah Mahmud, central committee leader Syed Khairul Alam, journalist torture prevention committee, Bangladesh general secretary Ali Azgar Emon, organizing secretary Sumon Talukder, members Jamal Hossain, Shaon Badhon, Asma Akhter, Mousumi Akhter, Rosy Akhter, Maryam Akhter Maria, Romana Sanju, Khilkhet Press Club president Habib Sarkar Swadhin, BMSF Chhatak Upazila branch president Mushahid Ali, Narayanganj Port branch general secretary GK Russell, Barguna district branch vice-president Shafiqul Islam, Comilla’s Abdul Quader Apu, Laxmipur district branch’s Faruk Ahmed, etc. delivered speeches.
After the rally, a procession ended at Ramna Park.
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