Adviser Mahfuj defends new TV channel approvals, says 'outcry comes from old order'

Amid growing debate over the approval of two new television channels, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam has said the criticism reflects resistance from those unwilling to accept new faces and voices in the country's media landscape.

Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled "Media in July and After" held yesterday (9 October) at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium in Dhaka, the adviser said, "The uproar we are hearing today over TV approvals is the cry of the old order. Those who think no new people or new faces should enter the field — this is their frustration. We understand that very well."

Addressing the controversy over new television licenses, Mahfuj Alam made his stance clear: "I said it plainly yesterday — and even if I remain in this post for just one more day, I will continue to try to approve new media outlets. We did not shut down fascist media; we will instead create new media."

He explained that new media would bring new voices, new narratives, and new debates, adding, "Since we did not resort to violence, our struggle will be one of ideas — a battle of thought against thought, argument against argument. We are confident we will prevail."

The adviser also urged the PIB to conduct a comprehensive study on the role of television channels during the July Uprising, as well as during the the Awami League rule. He said, "We need self-reflection on the past 15 years of predatory journalism, bias, and complicity with fascism."

Mahfuj Alam revealed that he had earlier written to the United Nations in June, requesting an assessment of the media's role in Bangladesh over the past decade and a half. Following that, the Unesco advised him to engage directly with them, and has since shown interest in helping draft a Code of Conduct for Bangladeshi journalists, a process that is currently underway.

During the event, the adviser unveiled four books — "Tarikher July," "The July Uprising and Political Intellect," "Observation: The Media Narrative of the Uprising," and "The Journalists We Lost." He also launched "Bangla Fact,"a new fact-checking website initiated by PIB.

The discussion was chaired by Firdous Azim, chairperson of PIB's Board of Directors, and attended by economist Mahbub Ullah, Professor Salimullah Khan, and PIB Director General Faruk Wasif, among others.

Notably, one of the newly approved television channels is owned by a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), and the other by a person formerly associated with the National Citizen Committee. Critics have alleged that, like previous governments, the interim administration is also granting licenses based on political affiliation. Responding to such allegations, Adviser Mahfuj Alam emphasised that the government's goal is to diversify the media sphere, not control it.