Most editors of the country鈥檚 leading newspapers on Tuesday suggested the Professor Muhammad Yunus-led interim government that its tenure should be determined by its plan of reforms, while some other editors viewed that the tenure should be from two to three years.
They made the suggestions at a views exchange meeting with the chief adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna.
Having said that he invited the editors to hear their opinion and advice, professor Yunus at the meeting underscored the role of the media in forging national solidarity in this situation of the country.
Terming this government as media friendly, The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, emerging from the meeting,聽 told reporters that the editors spoke for a strengthened national unity and proposed reforms in various areas, including the constitution.
He also called for an end to the filing of murder cases against journalists.
He said that the Editors鈥� Council had submitted several proposals to the interim government, including the immediate removal of laws enabling persecution of journalists, with a view to future reforms.
During the meeting, professor Yunus expressed his firm belief in the power of press freedom, calling on the media to maintain transparency in its coverage, particularly in critiquing the government, Mahfuz Anam said, adding that the chief adviser emphasised the necessity of establishing national consensus through their work, urging them to embrace diverse perspectives and boldly highlight government shortcomings.
The editors, raising significant concerns over the repressive clauses in the Cyber Security Act, called for the immediate suspension of these provisions, particularly those stifling journalists, with a view to reforming them in the future, The Daily Star editor said.
Editors鈥� Council general secretary and Daily Bonik Barta editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud told 抖阴精品 that the council presented some written proposals regarding the media to the chief adviser.
He said that at one point of the meeting Yunus asked for their suggestions regarding the tenure of his government as political parties were demanding elections within a 鈥榣ogical time鈥�.
鈥楾hen I have said that talking about the tenure of a government is not a task of editors. Most of the editors said that the tenure of the government depended on its plan of reforms, while a few editors said that the tenure of the government could be from two to three years,鈥� Hanif said.
A meeting insider told 抖阴精品 that Daily Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman suggested preparing of an outline of its reform agenda by the government and make it public.
Matiur Rahman also suggested that the government should take measures to strengthen the local government bodies and focus on decentralisation of power.
At the meeting, Mahfuz Anam said that the interim government could continue for three years which a few editors supported, while an editor said that the tenure should not be more than two years, the insider said.
抖阴精品 editor Nurul Kabir said that the Yunus-led interim government came to power with the support of student leaders who led a mass uprising bringing the downfall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.
He said that the interim government had the socio-political legitimacy but there was controversy over its legal legitimacy.
As regards the tenure of the government, he said that no government on the earth had any open-ended tenure, nor had they wielded unlimited power.
鈥楾he tenure of the government would depend on what kind of reforms agenda it has in mind,鈥� he said, adding that whatever reform agenda it was considering to implement, it would eventually have to consult the matter with political classes.
Because democratic reform is a political process it should be in consultation with the political stakeholders, he said.
He told Professor Yunus that his cabinet team still did not appear as a serious group being able to earn people鈥檚 confidence in carrying out critical reforms.
He also suggested measures to make the state-run media institutions鈥擝angladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha鈥攁utonomous organisations.
Several other editors also agreed with the proposal of Nurul Kabir.
Financial Express editor Shamsul Huq Zahid suggested reform in the financial sector, while The Business Standard editor Inam Ahmed suggested reforms in the banking sector.
Following the meeting, chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam and deputy press secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy when deputy press secretary Apurba Jahangir was also present.
The chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam said that professor Yunus asked the editors鈥� suggestions about the logical tenure of his government.聽
He added that a group of editors agreed that the timeframe for conducting reforms should be from two to three years.
Later on the day, in a clarification, Shafiqul Alam said, 鈥楧uring the meeting with chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus, several editors on Tuesday suggested that the tenure of the interim government could be from around two to three years. Most editors, however, said that the tenure of the interim government should be determined by the time needed to carry out vital reforms.鈥�
Later, in a press release signed by Editors鈥� Council president Mahfuz Anam and general secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud said that some of the editors present in the meeting gave their personal opinions about the possible tenure of the government when the chief adviser asked for their suggestions in this regard.聽
鈥楳ost of the editors present in the views exchange meeting did not say anything about the tenure of the government. They gave more emphasis on speedy improvement of the law and order situation, safety of people and factories and speedy presentation of the agenda or outline of this government to the people,鈥� the statement said.
Among others, Daily Jugantor editor Saiful Alam, Kaler Kantho editor Hasan Hafiz, Kalbela editor Santosh Sharma, Dainik Amader Shomoy editor Abul Momen, Daily Sangbad editor Altamash Kabir, Dainik Azadi editor MA Malek, Desh Rupantor editor Mustafa Mamun, Protidiner Bangladesh editor Mustafiz Shafi, and BSS managing director and chief editor Mahbub Morshed were present at the meeting.