Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman has emphasized the urgent need to ensure media independence during the tenure of the current interim government, calling it a vital step toward restoring democratic accountability.

Speaking at an event in Dhaka on Thursday marking World Press Freedom Day, Rahman said, “Under the past fascist regime, institutions like the police, judiciary, and media were systematically dismantled.”

He stressed that the media cannot function as the “fourth estate” unless it is freed from political interference and institutional suppression.

Rahman pointed to the erosion of public trust in journalism, blaming “a handful of individuals” for undermining the profession’s credibility. He called for sweeping reforms to rebuild the sector, emphasizing that journalists and media houses must operate independently—without affiliations to political parties or serving government interests.

Reflecting on the relaunch of Amar Desh, he credited the post-July political shift for creating an environment conducive to press revival. “Over the past 15 years, the media has lost its rightful place as a cornerstone of democracy,” he said.

Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh in September 2024 after more than five years in exile, recounted the persecution he faced under the previous Awami League government. He was arrested twice—once in June 2010 and again in April 2013—after the closure of Amar Desh, enduring custodial torture and facing 124 legal cases filed against him.

Criticizing the appointment of former judge Md Nizamul Haque as the last chairman of the Press Council, Rahman described it as “an insult to journalism.” He urged for a more empowered and impartial Press Council and highlighted the need for fair treatment of journalists, noting that media professionals were given fewer holidays during Eid despite a 10-day public holiday.

The event, organized by the Journalist Community of Bangladesh, also featured the presentation of a policy paper titled “Media Reform: Challenges and Solutions” by Md Miah Hossain, member secretary of the organization. The paper proposed 16 reform points, including constitutional recognition of the media as the fourth pillar of the state. Taptap, a Germany-based cross border money transfer platform, sponsored the event. 

The discussion was chaired by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Vice President Gazi Anwar and moderated by General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel. Other notable speakers included The Financial Express editor Shamsul Huq Zahid, Media Reform Commission member Syed Abdal Ahmed, Journalist Welfare Trust Managing Director M Abdullah, and Dhaka Journalists Union Joint Secretary Md Didarul Alam Didar.