United News of Bangladesh

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Sunday said the government will enhance facilities for newspapers and private television channels, while urging media owners to improve the welfare and working conditions of journalists. Speaking at the ‘Meet the Reporters’ programme at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), he stressed the need to raise journalists’ salaries and said the government plans to set a minimum entry-level salary for journalists. “Media outlets that fail to pay journalists the minimum salary will not be eligible for government facilities,” Mahfuj warned. He said the government will digitise the private television broadcasting system, which will make it possible to monitor how many viewers are watching each channel. “Channels that perform well will attract more advertisements and increase their revenue,” he noted. On the approval of new TV channels, Mahfuj said the government is approving new licences in line with existing policies to encourage positive competition among media outlets. Highlighting the progress in implementing the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations, he said the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has begun work on 13 out of 23 proposals recommended for immediate action. These, he said, will be implemented through new policies and ordinances, while some matters will require decisions from the Advisory Council. Mahfuj added that the draft Journalism Rights Protection Ordinance has already been sent for vetting and will soon be placed before the Advisory Council. The government is also reviewing the Media Workers Act and developing policies for private television channels. Referring to online platforms, he said the scope of online media and OTT services is expanding rapidly. The ministry, along with the ICT Division, is working to bring all online media under a unified framework, adding that outlets earning revenue through digital content must register under this system. On newspaper circulation figures, the adviser said many discrepancies have been detected. The Department of Films and Publications (DFP) recently monitored circulation data, revealing that some newspapers print as few as 500 to 1,000 copies a day. Based on the Media Reform Commission’s recommendations, circulation figures will be verified and advertising rates adjusted accordingly, he said, urging publishers to provide accurate numbers. Addressing journalist safety, Mahfuj said the government will work with the Election Commission to ensure protection for reporters during the upcoming national elections. Responding to a question on establishing a permanent media commission, he said redefining the functions of several departments and organisations under the ministry is necessary first, which makes immediate formation difficult. He also urged all media outlets to maintain fact-checking teams to prevent the spread of rumours. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Alam said the government wants to promote ethics in journalism and reiterated the importance of improving journalists’ salaries. He criticised the rise of “umbrella” news websites that republish others’ content in violation of copyright, calling for stronger respect for intellectual property rights. The event was presided over by DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and moderated by General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel. Journalists from print and electronic media, including the Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmed, attended the programme.

Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam has said the government will enact the ‘Journalist Protection Act’ within the next two to three months ‘at any cost’. He made the announcement at a discussion titled ‘Self-regulation and Grievance in Media: Political and Policy Perspective’, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in Dhaka on Sunday. On the proposed media commission, the adviser said the government is taking steps in a positive direction. Speaking about the ‘Notun Kuri’ competition, Alam expressed doubts over whether the programme could be completed. Although he did not specify the reason, he hinted that political parties might be behind it. Expressing insecurity over his job, Mahfuj Alam said he does not know whether he will remain in his (government) position tomorrow or not. As part of media reform, he proposed merging BTV and Bangladesh Betar into an autonomous entity, but complications have arisen due to staff coordination and stakeholder influence. “Visible and invisible stakeholders in the ministry influence decision-making,” he said. Although media house owners have benefited from increased advertising rates, the actual benefits for journalists remain questionable. “What are journalists really getting? The owners don’t have an answer,” the adviser added. Acknowledging the harassment of journalists, he said that no media house was shut down during his tenure, and his ministry is working to resolve these issues. Regarding new media houses, he clarified that no new media licences have been issued.Addressing administrative challenges, he said, “You need a secretary to run the Secretariat; a ministry can’t be run by ordinary people.” He also spoke about the powerful nexus between the civil-military bureaucracy and corporate society, which is difficult to dismantle. Kamal Ahmed, head of Media Reform Comission, expressed concern over media protection, legal reform and professionalism. He recommended gathering public opinion and publishing drafts of the Journalist Protection Act 2025 and the Media Commission Act on a website. Despite submitting the report six months ago, he regretted the delay in implementing the Journalist Protection Ordinance. He proposed recognising journalists as workers under labour law, reforming the wage board, and bringing Bangladesh Betar, BTV and news agencies under a single board. He urged the formation of an independent Media Commission to review or revoke outdated licences. Criticising the Awami League government, he emphasised the importance of media licence quality and demanded the release of arrested journalists. He clarified that self-regulation should not be confused with self-censorship and called for the protection of objective reporting and freedom of opinion. SM Shameem Reza, Professor at Dhaka University, recommended that political parties include provisions in their election manifestos to ensure job security, legal and financial protection for journalists, especially the safety of female journalists and access to maternity leave. Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Executive President of Gonoforum, strongly condemned the recent injustices and harassment faced by media professionals. He said that the way journalists were mistreated in the higher courts was unimaginable. He pointed out that many lawyers were reluctant to take on journalists’ cases. He believes that media reform does not require dialogue with political parties. Addressing Adviser Mahfuj Alam, he emphatically said, “Go ahead and do it—we, 180 million people, are with you.” CGS President Zillur Rahman emphasised the importance of discussing reforms. He mentioned that although much has been said about reform, the promises made by political parties during the 2007–08 “One-Eleven” period were never implemented. He pointed out that reform narratives often remain confined to promises, with little effort made to turn the page and act on them. Among others, Dr. Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, Convener of BNP Media Cell; Dr. Shakhawat Hossain Sayantha, General Secretary of G-9; Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and Chief of Media and Publicity Team, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; and Md. Rashed Khan, General Secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, were also present.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday night strongly condemned the attempted harassment of Information Adviser Mahfuj Alam during his official visit to the Bangladesh Consulate in New York on Sunday evening. Freedom of speech, assembly and peaceful protest are cornerstones of democracy, fully protected under the United States Constitution, he said. "But these rights must always be exercised with responsibility and respect," Alam said in a post shared from his verified Facebook account.  The Press Secretary called on those who engaged in this conduct to reflect on why their political activities have been banished and banned in Bangladesh: because of a repeated pattern of terrorising people and violent, destructive behaviour.  The same behaviour was grossly on display in New York, he observed.  No discrimination based on religion in Bangladesh today: Mahfuj tells US delegation "Let’s be clear, violence is not protest. Intimidation is not free speech. Disorder is not democracy. Protest with dignity, not hostility. Let us remind you that the right to dissent is sacred, secured through the sacrifices and blood of those who died in last year’s mass uprising," Alam said.  The strength of any movement is not measured by how loudly it shouts or how violently it acts, but by the discipline, dignity and responsibility it upholds, said the Press Secretary.  "Learn from both past and present mistakes: thuggery is no longer an option. Grow up, or risk proving once again to the international community why revolution was the only path to a truly free Bangladesh," he mentioned.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Tuesday said the education secretary has already been removed. The removal of Education Secretary (Senior Secretary) Siddique Zobair came amid controversy over the postponement of the ongoing HSC examinations. Betar still major source of information: Mahfuj Alam Mahfuj Alam said the government is committed to accepting any fair demand. "A committee is being formed soon to conduct a full investigation into the Milestone tragedy. The investigation committee will be formed by coordinating the six-point demands of the students," Mahfuj said in a post from his verified Facebook account.

The government expects the media to play a neutral and responsible role, said Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Thursday. He underscored the growing challenges posed by rumours and misinformation, saying that, alongside promoting the truth, the media must take effective measures to counter these issues. Betar still major source of information: Mahfuj Alam The adviser was speaking at an iftar gathering and exchange of views held at the Information Bhaban in Dhaka, organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He welcomed constructive criticism from the media, acknowledging that such feedback was valuable in aiding the government to make informed decisions. The adviser added that while the media's critical role should be appreciated, it was equally important for the media to highlight the government’s positive initiatives. Reflecting on the media's role over the past 16 years, Mahfuj criticised the lack of discipline in the industry and revealed that the government had established a Media Reform Commission to address this. Based on the recommendations of this commission, the government was set to initiate media reforms. He called for the cooperation of media owners, journalists, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of these reforms. Govt to arrest mobs instantly, on-site: Adviser Mahfuj Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mahbuba Farzana, along with owners and editors from print and electronic media, as well as officials from the Press Wing of the chief adviser, among others, attended the programme.

Mahfuj Alam has been appointed adviser to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. Information Adviser Nahid Islam finally quits Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus appointed him the Information Adviser a day after Nahid Islam stepped down from the position. Mafuj Alam took the oath of office as an adviser on November 10 last year but had not held a specific portfolio. President accepts Nahid’s resignation letter Earlier, he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on August 28, just 20 days after the formation of the interim government. Mafuj Alam is a graduate of the Law Department of  Dhaka University.

Advisers Md Nahid Islam and Md Mahfuj Alam on Sunday said that consensus based institutional reform can sow the seed of true and sustainable democracy in Bangladesh and that in turn will save the future of democracy in Bangladesh.   They expressed this view in response to a question raised during the first session of a series of ‘Foreign Policy Dialogue’ themed ‘Building a New Bangladesh – Reforms and Foreign Policy’, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications Information Technology Nahid Islam and Adviser to the government Mahfuj Alam participated in the dialogue while Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin moderated the event.   At the beginning, a minute’s silence was observed for the martyrs of the July-August revolution and the event screened a special short documentary on the events of July-August 2024.   Praising the fearless roles of the young Advisers, Foreign Secretary remarked that the youth has again proved that they can take the leadership role at any critical juncture of the country’s history. India unlikely to extradite Hasina, says Adviser Mahfuj Mentioning the reform initiatives taken by the interim government, he engaged in an interactive dialogue with the Advisers and sought their views on foreign policy, reform, mass uprising and the future of Bangladesh.   An engaging question-answer session followed where young officers of the Ministry took the opportunity to ask the Advisers candid questions and get answers on the episode that turned the history pages of Bangladesh into a new chapter.   In response to a question, both the Advisers agreed that for the implementation of a robust foreign policy for making Bangladesh an important player in the international arena, support will be extended to the initiatives for enabling the Foreign Ministry to take the leading role in foreign policy issues.

The Facebook post claiming Mahfuj Alam, the Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, as a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, is not true, said Chief Adviser's press wing. The post carried a screenshot of an article published by the English daily, The Business Standard, which referred to a man, namely Abdullah Al Mahfuz, as an alleged member of Hizb ut-Tahrir. The accused Abdullah Al Mahfuz and Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam are two different persons, said the press wing through its fact-checking Facebook page. The fact-checking unit of the daily Ajker Patrika cleared the matter in a report also. Mahfuj Alam has been a key member of the student movement, which led to the mass uprising against Sheikh Hasina's "dictatorship". He has said in a post that he was never a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir or any other outlawed or Islamist groups.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam on Thursday said the interim government would not tolerate any attacks on the media and freedom of expression. At a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy, he clarified the government’s position on media freedom, warning that legal steps would be taken against anyone trying to hurt the media freedom. Govt to form search committee for constituting new Election Commission: Mahfuj Earlier, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a warning that necessary action will be taken if any media organization comes under attack. The ministry expressed serious concern over reports of plans to lay siege to and threats aimed at certain media outlets in Bangladesh. The interim government, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding media freedom, strongly condemned the threats and any attempts to intimidate the press. “If such incidents occur, those responsible will face legal consequences,” the statement emphasised. Tougher fight ahead, says Farhad Mazhar backing Mahfuj Mahfuj also said the Bangladesh Chhatra League, students’ wing of Bangladesh Awami League, is now banned and accordingly there are legal barriers to according it publicity through the media. He urged journalists to keep this in mind, to avoid playing any role in publicity of the “terrorist organization” through their media outlets. At the briefing, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said though BCL has been banned as a terrorist organization, no such decision has been taken regarding its parent organization Awami League, or any other organization. There is also no initiative to confiscate the assets of the banned organization for now, she mentioned. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present.

Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Mahfuj Alam has said all political parties wholeheartedly extended support to the interim government for their efforts during the dialogue with the Chief Adviser yesterday.  "All political parties extended their support to the government. They are considering this as their own government," he told reporters on Saturday night after a lengthy dialogue between the political parties and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.  The dialogue lasted till 9pm from 2:30pm at state guesthouse Jamuna where major political parties joined.  Dhaka, KL want stronger ties; next round of discussions on FTA soon During the dialogue, Mahfuj said, the government sought proposals from the political parties and the current law and order situation was also discussed.  He said there are six reform commissions in place and election preparation issues were discussed which will continue.  Responding to a question, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said there will be a consensus on reform programmes as the six reform commissions will submit their reports in December. "Timeline depends on that consensus," he said, adding that work towards election-centric preparations including Election Commission formation will go ahead simultaneously. Can’t wait indefinitely, says Dr Yunus seeking int’l solution to Rohingya crisis Elections, improving the law-and-order situation, rearranging public administration, and checking commodity prices were discussed in the dialogue.  The Chief Adviser informed the political parties of his government's initiatives to address these concerns, and they all pledged to cooperate.