Section of govt considers investigative journalism an enemy: Iftekharuzzaman
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) executive director Iftekharuzzaman on Tuesday said a section of the government in Bangladesh considers the investigative journalism an enemy.
“Those who come to power in our country never want to leave. Their focus shifts to the civil society and media when political opposition is subdued. Media wants to play a complementary role through investigative journalism by reporting on wrongdoings and mistakes. But some in the government consider this initiative of the media antagonistic towards the government,” Iftekharuzzaman said.
The TIB executive director was addressing a virtual discussion on challenges of investigative journalism amid coronavirus and what to do.
Teachers of journalism departments, media researchers, national and local level senior journalists and representatives of different non-government organisations took part in the discussion today.
Iftekharuzzaman said there are two kinds of risks for media – internal and external. How far the media houses have good governance, also has to be considered. Internal risk factors could be resolved to a great extent if the media houses practice ethics individually and collectively, he added.
The TIB executive director further said media comes under massive pressure if politics becomes unilateral. Seizing this opportunity, a section of media starts working as associates of the government. Amid all this adversity, another stream of media continues investigative and objective journalism.
Three journalists were given special investigative journalism award for their reports on Covid-19 situation from the discussion.
TIB has been giving awards for investigative journalism since 2000. The civil society body last year announced to give special awards for investigative journalism for reports on Covid-19 pandemic.
Iftekharuzzaman announced the names of the award recipients today. Abu Raihan Tanim, staff reporter of Dainik Chattogram, got the award in the regional print media and online news portal category while Saikat Bhowmik, senior reporter of sarabangla.net got the award in the national print media and online news portal category. Mufti Parvez Nadir Reza, special reporter of Ekattar TV got the award in national electronic media category.
Each of the awardees will get Tk 150,000 and a crest, TIB said.
Masum Billah presented the keynote paper in the programme where media expert Afsan Chowdhury, professor of Mass Communication and Journalism department at Dhaka University Giti Ara Nasrin, MRDI executive director Hasibur Rahman, journalist Zulfiqur Ali Manik, Chattogram’s Dainik Azadi managing editor Wahid Malik and Jashore’s Gramer Kagoj editor Mahibul Islam also addressed the programme.