Sabbir Khan

"Who are the journalists in Bangladesh now?" Part 1/2 Analysis(Translated) from Prominent Journalist @sabbir66. After August 5th, more than 1,000 journalists across the country were laid off. Private TV channels and newspapers were seized. Renowned and emerging journalists at various levels of the media houses were dismissed from their jobs. Cases, including murder charges, were filed against 327 journalists. 31 journalists were arrested at different times across the country. The press accreditation cards of 168 journalists in the country were revoked in four phases. 92 journalists were expelled and their membership suspended from the National Press Club and other press clubs across the country. 47 journalists are being harassed in the name of bank account scrutiny. More than a hundred journalists have been barred from traveling abroad. Many have had their bank accounts frozen. 8 journalists were killed during and after the July-August movement. These are all calculated and known facts. But it is impossible to calculate how many have been and are constantly being harassed socially and within their families. In a previous article, I mentioned that only a handful of journalists were enjoying the patronage and benefits of the Awami League government. But after August 5th, it was seen that everyone was indiscriminately labeled as Awami League agents and fired. The question is, who are filling the void left by these dismissed journalists? Here, I feel it is necessary to mention the names of some of the dismissed journalists. This will help the readers understand whether alternative journalists have been created in the country to replace them. * Experienced and skilled editors have been dismissed from various media outlets. Layoffs/terminations are very normal in journalism. But what happened after August 5th is no longer normal; it has turned into an abnormal event. Those with long years of editing and management experience have been removed and replaced by uneducated, unskilled, inexperienced, and dishonest journalists. This is continuously and rapidly degrading the standard of journalism in Bangladesh. Among the daily newspapers, the names of Saiful Alam, editor of Jugantor; Alamgir Hossain, editor of Samakal; Abul Kalam Azad, MD of BSS; Enamul Haq Chowdhury, editor of The Daily Sun; Mustafiz Shafi, editor of Pratidiner Bangladesh; Kamalesh Roy, editor of Somoyer Alo; Mostafa Mamun, editor of Desh Rupantor; and Arun Kumar Dey, executive editor of Jaijaidin, can be mentioned. Among the private TV channels, Ahmed Jobayer of Somoy TV; Zayedul Ahsan Pintu, Pranav Saha, and Nayeem Tarik of DBC; Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa, and Bayezid Milkii of Ekattor TV; Ashis সৈকত of Independent TV; Rahul Raha of News 24; Prabhas Amin of ATN News; J. I. Mamun of ATN Bangla; Ashok Chowdhury, Saiful Islam, and Sanchita Sharma of Boishakhi TV; Manas Ghosh and Belal Hossain of Asian TV; Rashed Chowdhury of Ekushey TV; Nazrul Kabir of Bangla TV; Deep Azad of Nagorik TV; Munni Saha and Sukanta Gupta Alak of Ektaka Khabar; Jewel Mazhar of banglanews24.com; and Rahman Mustafiz of sarabangla.net are noteworthy. They have been removed, fired, and many are facing various forms of harassment, including multiple murder charges. Many of them have made immense sacrifices and tireless efforts in the progress of Bangladesh's media. Yet, in today's Bangladesh, they have become outcasts, which has already been recognized and condemned worldwide as a shameful and disgraceful example for free and independent journalism. Needless to say, there has been no impact on Daily Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, The New Age, Tribune, Jamuna TV, Bangla Vision TV, Ekattor TV, Channel i, NTV, etc., neither before nor now. It is difficult to say whether this is a benefit of pleasing everyone or professionalism! There is no shortage of controversy surrounding them either! Yet, they remain untouchable at all times.