Independent press vital for democracy: Rizvi

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, acting secretary general of the BNP and political adviser to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has said there is no alternative to an independent, free, and objective media for strengthening democracy and cultivating a clean society.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 31st founding anniversary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at its Segunbagicha premises in Dhaka on Thursday, Rizvi said constructive criticism of the government would ultimately benefit both the media and the state alike. He stressed, moreover, that journalists must prioritise accuracy and rigorous verification despite the mounting pressure to publish news with ever-greater speed, particularly amid the rapid proliferation of social media.

Rizvi further recalled the repression journalists endured under the previous government, citing arrests and physical abuse inflicted under laws such as the Digital Security Act; he added that the DRU had served as a vital safe haven for democratic forces and oppressed people throughout that period. However, he cautioned that journalism must never be allowed to become a vehicle for misinformation or character assassination, urging reporters to conduct their work with greater integrity, professionalism and a heightened sense of responsibility.

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Rizvi's remarks, delivered against the backdrop of a media landscape still recovering from years of restrictive legislation, appear intended to signal a more permissive environment for the press; nevertheless, whether such assurances translate into durable institutional protections will likely depend on how forthcoming laws, including the proposed Cybersecurity Amendment Act, are ultimately drafted and enforced.