Mirza Fakhrul Demands Ethical Media Reporting in Thakurgaon

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated on Friday that the student-led mass uprising has created a historic opportunity to firmly re-establish democracy in the country.

Speaking to journalists at the Kalibari Mirza Ruhul Amin Auditorium in Thakurgaon, the veteran leader reflected on the major challenges inherited by the current interim administration. He alleged that systemic corruption under the previous Awami League regime had hollowed out the financial sector, leaving key state institutions crippled.

"The interim administration took over the responsibilities of a democratic transition under incredibly tough circumstances," Fakhrul said. "The banking sector had been systematically hollowed out. The previous regime looted massive amounts of public wealth, forcing us to practically start from zero. Over the last few months, steady efforts have been underway to stabilize the economy and implement critical structural reforms."

Fakhrul called upon the public and the media to extend their patience and cooperation as these recovery measures take effect. He also assured local media professionals that the party remains committed to supporting the press and protecting journalist welfare.

Highlighting the growing hazards faced by media workers globally and domestically, the BNP leader paid tribute to journalists who lost their lives in international conflict zones, as well as local reporters who faced severe state persecution under the previous government.

He urged the press corps to uphold the highest standards of investigative integrity and objectivity, particularly in an era dominated by rapid online information.

"Journalism is an exceptionally challenging profession. When you report on a controversial topic or file an adversarial story against an individual, do not publish it without first securing their version of the narrative. Media ethics dictate that the accused party must always be given a fair chance to respond." Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Secretary General said.

Fakhrul also raised concerns over the unchecked spread of misinformation on digital platforms. "Social media has turned into an incredibly powerful tool," he noted. "While it connects people, it can also distort social harmony. It takes less than a second to run a coordinated smear campaign and destroy a political leader's reputation online. Journalists must remain vigilant against these digital manipulations."

The briefing was attended by prominent local party officials, including District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin, General Secretary Md. Poigam Ali, and Municipal BNP President Shariful Islam Sharif.