Independent media suppression led to fall of past governments, Says Mahfuz Anam

TBM Report

Journalistic independence is not a threat but a prerequisite for a government’s own success, stated Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star. Speaking at the “Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026” in Dhaka on Friday, he asserted that a major reason behind the collapse of previous regimes was their systematic effort to stifle the growth of a free and independent press.

During the session focused on investigative reporting, Anam emphasized that the future of Bangladesh is deeply rooted in the strength of investigative journalism. He lamented the historic and current scarcity of in-depth reporting in the country, attributing this failure to the weakening of editorial institutions. “Independent journalism and a robust editorial culture are the foundations of investigative work. Unfortunately, many editors are failing to uphold those standards,” he remarked.

Addressing the deep-seated issue of political polarization within the media, Anam criticized how easily journalists trade their professional integrity for political affiliation. He noted a recurring pattern where the leadership of journalist unions shifts with every change in the national government, leaving those not aligned with the ruling party in a state of professional insecurity. This culture of partisanship, he argued, severely damages the credibility of the profession.

Concluding his address at the event organized by Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), Anam called for rigorous scrutiny of power and corruption through investigative journalism to ensure transparency and good governance. He maintained that exposing the misuse of public funds and the abuse of power is the only way to safeguard democracy and bring accountability to society in this critical juncture of Bangladesh’s journey.