Journalists, editors and media leaders from across Bangladesh on Saturday said a free, independent and fearless media is essential for sustaining democracy, warning that efforts to silence the press ultimately threaten the rights of society as a whole.
The remarks were made at the country’s first Media Convention 2026, held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka and jointly organised by the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh and the Editors’ Council. The event brought together editors, reporters, publishers and representatives of journalist organisations from across the country in a rare display of unity.
Opening the convention, Editors’ Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said journalism is driven by democratic aspirations and cannot be treated as a crime. He said journalists enter the profession with a collective commitment to democracy, human rights, equality and a non-communal social order, and any attack on media institutions directly obstructs the rights of citizens.
Kabir warned that attempts to suppress the media through laws, intimidation or force weaken democratic space and undermine society as a whole. If newspapers and other media outlets are unable to function independently, remain active or speak freely, he said, fundamental rights across society will inevitably be curtailed. He stressed the need for unity and collective resistance, noting that media development and democratic development are closely linked worldwide.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said independent journalism ultimately benefits governments more than any other institution. He said political leaders are often surrounded by praise and filtered information, as party colleagues, bureaucrats and intelligence agencies rarely speak uncomfortable truths. Independent journalism, he said, remains the only institution consistently willing to tell the truth to those in power.
Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman emphasised the importance of unity within the profession, warning that divisions among journalists weaken journalism at any time and on any issue. He described the convention as a significant step forward and said that despite differences in opinions, ideas or ideologies, journalists must stand together on matters concerning media institutions, professional integrity and personal safety. Unity, empathy and solidarity, he said, are crucial in times of growing pressure.
Organisers said democratic values have come under sustained pressure in recent years, particularly through incidents of mob violence and intimidation, posing serious challenges to freedom of expression and democratic principles. Journalists at the convention highlighted the need to protect democratic space, ensure journalists’ safety and uphold the dignity and rights of media workers.
Leaders of numerous journalist organisations, including the Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists, Dhaka Reporters Unity, Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh, Economic Reporters Forum, Photo Journalists Association and the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh, took part in the convention.
Journalists from outside Dhaka, along with editors, publishers, media professionals and columnists, also joined the programme, which aimed to project a united stance in support of independent, responsible and courageous journalism in Bangladesh.
