Media, Press Wings and Expectations

 

Press is the fourth pillar of a state. Freedom of press is an exclusive and invaluable instrument all over the world to consolidate the prevalence of human rights, good governance, democratic values, transparency and integrity on all levels of statecraft. If we look around the world, we can see most of the countries and organizations which have come under international sanctions, embargoes and bans have faced these consequences because of their antagonistic approach to press or mass media.

Media outlets in Bangladesh are divided into two segments-pro-government and anti-government. Press should be allowed to call a spade a spade. Mass media should not be forced to support a wrong move or to oppose a good step. Bangladesh's socio-economic progress during last fifteen years has been admired all over the globe excluding anomalies in the financial sector but people associated with press have failed to adequately promote the success stories of Bangladesh in the international arena. Bangladesh's unprecedented successful breakthroughs in digital innovations, increasing per capita income, reducing child mortality rate, enhancing women empowerment, eradicating poverty and hunger, instigating infrastructural boom etcetera have obtained applause from many countries and leading global politicians and international stakeholders.

Bangladesh was once upon a time behind Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal in terms of socio-economic progress but now our country has exceeded all the above nations on all indexes. But these achievements by the Bangladesh government have not been radiantly spotlighted by the press wing of different state-run organizations. Due to lack of sincere initiatives from Bangladesh's press platforms, Father of the Nation and the liberator of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is not much highlighted in global confabulations. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina makes references to Bangabandhu in all her speeches. We also regard Bangabandhu as an idol who struggled all his life to establish justice and equal rights for all. Valuable lessons can be gathered from Bangabandhu's statesmanship which lasted for only three years and a half and case studies can be carried out on his life and political career. Today's citizens of Bangladesh, particularly the youths, can learn precious things from Bangabandhu's autobiographic books "Unfinished Memoirs" and "Prison Diary".

There are some tricky people who hang big pictures of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in their offices and homes but behind the scene they are engaged with vile activities which lower the Prime Minister's image and stain her government's honour. For example, US-based Time magazine published a cover story on Sheikh Hasina titled "Hard Power: Sheikh Hasina and the Fate of Democracy in Bangladesh" which appeared on 2 November 2023. Most of the people failed to understand the hidden message of the article and profusely praised Sheikh Hasina without realizing the ulterior motive of Time magazine.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was actually downgraded in the above article that appeared in Time magazine. This article denigrated the development that Bangladesh has acquired under Sheikh Hasina's leadership and debased Sheikh Hasina's success in eliminating poverty. Still some sycophants spoke very high of this article through newspapers and social media. I wrote an opinion piece on the right interpretation of the write-up of Time magazine in The Asian Age titled "Timeless Sheikh Hasina Undermined in Time Magazine" which appeared on 6 November 2023. I vividly described in my article how Time magazine has in fact maligned Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh's progress. I personally told Sheikh Hasina about the Time magazine article and its wicked purpose. The Prime Minister understood the point clearly.

Now questions arise-what is the job of the Press Wing of the Prime Minister's Office? What is the duty of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting? Why do they fail to deal with false campaign against Bangladesh? Why cannot they answer such fabricated propaganda with precise and fast responses? It is happening because right people have not been placed in right posts.

We often see that the US State Department and Amnesty International issue statements which deplore Bangladesh's political spectacle, electoral system, human rights situation and so on. But we have not seen the press wings of the government acting promptly to confront these malicious discourses by foreign powers. It is an absolute failure of the press sections of the government's important ministries and divisions.

Bangladesh Television (BTV), Betar, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and other state-owned mouthpieces must work with diligence and loyalty to protect the country's interest and to brighten Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's image who is an asset for the country. Media wings belonging to the government should work for branding Bangladesh worldwide which will substantially drive Bangladesh forward towards more brilliant accomplishments.

After former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently one of the most applauded, efficient and visionary leaders in the world.

Very recently corruptions by some police officers and bureaucrats have glared up through newspapers, online news portals, television channels and social media. It cannot be denied that police force needs to be reformed. At the same time it is essential to remember that the whole police department cannot be blamed for the corrupt activities of a few officials. Required measures need to be implemented to make police force corruption-free but we must admit that police department plays the most vital role in keeping up law and order throughout Bangladesh. Members of police force are people's friends, not enemies. People resort to police stations when they get in trouble. Excluding a few exceptions, most of the police officers work with competence, dedication, professionalism and integrity. There are many honest officials in civil service too.

Not just police officers, a big portion of bureaucrats are also directly associated with corruption. Even some ruling party Members of Parliament (MPs) raised these allegations a few days ago. A correction drive is now very much important to obliterate graft and anomalies in all government sectors. Otherwise state mechanism will become dysfunctional and it will bring about disastrous outcomes for us.

Sheikh Hasina has asked the Cabinet not to build up any further organizations after her name. It is a reflection of the fact that Sheikh Hasina is not at all fond of self-eulogy. Camouflaged flatterers, maligners and lackeys which consist of some immoral bureaucrats, dishonest politicians and business syndicators should be kept away from policymaking and state-regulated activities. Media's focus on this point is indispensable.

Even the Prime Minister's well-wishers are not respected and valued by some top officials and functionaries who hold big posts in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). It happens because patriotic leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, civil society members speak out bitter truths about disorder, anarchy, nepotism and lack of good governance. Allegations show that some officials belonging to the Press Wing of PMO have amassed sky-high quantities of wealth and money both at home and overseas.

I am personally familiar with the press secretaries of some countries' presidents and prime ministers. Former US President Barack Obama's Press Secretary Josh Ernest is also known to me. It is a common exercise in all countries that Press Secretaries brief the media on the eve of the Prime Minister's or President's foreign tours or important events but in our country we always see that it is done by some other officials who are not affiliated with press wings.

Josh Ernest once told me that press should never be underrated because news agencies highlight the government's successes and also disclose the government's debacles. Media outlets can both uplift a government's popularity or can also chop down the ruling authorities' acceptability to the people.

For this reason the key officials in the Prime Minister's Press Wing should be learned, efficient, devoted and proactive. Unfortunately a broad number of institutions have become polluted with corruption and mismanagement. The role of press wings is very essential in this regard to keep the Prime Minister updated about what is actually happening in the country. Otherwise we have to face severe episodes of misery and our golden dreams for a prosperous Bangladesh will go down the drain.

Some globally acclaimed journalists like Larry King of CNN, Tim Sebastian of BBC, Pronnoy Roy of NDTV, Arnab Goswami of Republican TV, Jerome Fenoglio of Le Monde are versatile figures in the arena of international media. Their views, comments and opinions are valued by leaders of influential countries.

In Bangladesh, we had some bold and enlightened media personalities like Ahmed Humayun, Editor of Dainik Bangla who died in 1999, Shahadat Chowdhury, Editor of weekly Bengali magazine Bichitra, Toab Khan of Janakantha, Shafik Rehman, Editor of popular Bengali magazine Jai Jai Din. Shafik Rehman introduced Valentine's Day in Bangladesh which is known as "Bhalobasha Dibosh". Enayetullah Khan, Editor of weekly Holiday, reporter Monajat Uddin, founding editor of Dainik Sangbad Ahmedul Kabir and Bangladesh Observer's (now extinct) founding editor Abdus Salam who even did not care about Pakistan military dictator Ayub Khan's blood eyes. The footprints of the courage and moral strength of these towering journalists are almost no longer found in our country at the present time.

On the entertainment turf of Bangladesh, there are some legendary names like late Mayor Annisul Huq, educationist Abdullah Abu Sayeed and late television host Fazle Lohani who were highly popular with audiences across the country.

While concluding, I would like to quote a few words from Jerome Fenoglio who once said, "We must transform ourselves while protecting our tradition of high quality journalism. The newspapers will remain our spine for a long time yet."

At the end of the write-up, I would like to extend my wholehearted best wishes and compliments to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and prayers for the full-fledged implementation of her Vision 2041.

Shoeb Chowdhury is an author, poet, geopolitical analyst and Chairman, Editorial Board of The Asian Age.