A coordinator says: “They (July Revolutionary Alliance) are close to the cultural advisor. They have no connection to the anti-discrimination student movement.”
Mohammad Shariful Alam Chowdhury : Three journalists lost their jobs after questioning interim government’s Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. Senior officials from their respective organizations told this reporter that the decision was made primarily out of fear of mob violence.
On Monday, April 28, Farooki attended a press conference at the Secretariat regarding the invitation of the Bangladeshi short film Ali to the Cannes Film Festival. During the event, reporters asked Farooki a series of questions on recent controversies. Among them were Fazle Rabbi of ATN Bangla, Mizanur Rahman (Rahman Mizan) of Deepto TV, and Rafiqul Basar of Channel i. Their questions—and the subsequent fallout—sparked widespread debate.
Mir Mashroor Zaman, Senior News Editor of Channel i, said, “After the issue came to the attention of the authorities, the reporter was relieved of duty pending an internal investigation. The question raised was deemed unprofessional. At the same time, threats were issued from a Facebook page run by a group called July Revolutionary Alliance. We had to consider both the safety of our staff and the institution. So, we temporarily removed the reporter. He hasn’t been fired yet. Final action will depend on the investigation.”
Farooki: It's ridiculous to say journalists were fired for questioning me
Rafiqul Basar, who was targeted by the July Revolutionary Alliance after asking questions, told Deutsche Welle, “I wanted to highlight that Pahela Baishakh is about leaving behind painful memories and embracing the new. The July-August spirit is similar. I simply sought the advisor’s comments on this. There was no political motive.”
ATN Bangla’s Chief Executive Editor Moniur Rahman said, “The press conference triggered threats of besieging our channel. That’s why Fazle Rabbi was terminated. An organization employs many people. We had to act considering the overall situation.”
Regarding Mizanur Rahman, SM Akash, Head of News at Deepto TV, said, “His statements at the press conference did not align with our editorial policy. So, we terminated him.”
Farooki, meanwhile, denied any direct or indirect role in the journalists’ dismissal. He wrote, “The subtle denial of mass murder evident in their comments could hurt anyone deeply affected by July. A mother who lost her child just eight months ago, or someone who narrowly survived the massacre, would be devastated by such remarks.”
Farooki acknowledged hearing about the terminations, stating: “Each channel has its own editorial policy. What they do is their decision. But I’ve seen people online saying journalists lost their jobs because they questioned me. That’s laughable. It’s not about me—it’s about July, and it's about editorial policies. People fail to understand that.”
What Did the Journalists Ask?
At the press conference, Channel i’s Rafiqul Basar asked about a Pahela Baishakh procession motif featuring Sheikh Hasina, questioning whether it helped heal past wounds or deepened divides. Farooki responded that the motif was the decision of the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University and added, “You can’t expect a reconciliation process before justice is served for the killing of 1,400 people in July. That’s absurd.”
ATN Bangla’s Fazle Rabbi followed up, saying, “But isn’t it politicians who should say such things?” Farooki replied, “I’m referencing a United Nations report. Please do your own research.”
Deepto TV’s Mizanur Rahman then asked, “How can you claim 1,400 people were killed during the July protests? That’s for the courts to decide.” Farooki countered, “Would you have questioned the Liberation War death toll in 1971 like this? That’s absurd.”
Mob Threats Follow the Questions
Following the press conference, the Facebook page of the July Revolutionary Alliance (JRA) posted photos of the three journalists and demanded disciplinary action. The group issued a 24-hour ultimatum and threatened to march on the offices of the TV channels if the journalists were not punished. JRA’s coordinator, Saleh Mahmud Rayhan, told reporters, “Journalists who defend genocide must be brought to justice.”
An anti-discrimination student movement coordinator distanced themselves from JRA, saying, “We opposed Farooki’s appointment. Our coordinators were unhappy. JRA is mainly made up of students from private universities and is closely linked with Farooki. They are not connected to our movement.”
Attempts to reach the JRA via the phone number listed on its Facebook page were unsuccessful.
Analysts Speak Out
Political analyst Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman said, “It’s unacceptable for employers to take action just because someone issues a threat. Mob culture must stop. The government has yet to take effective action. Without it, journalism will suffer. We’ll return to appeasement journalism.”
Focus on Deepto TV
On Tuesday, Deepto TV dismissed Mizanur Rahman without citing a reason. The channel also suspended all news broadcasts until further notice, and its digital in-charge, Mahmudur Rahman Shawon, was also relieved of duty. However, broadcasts resumed by 11 PM. SM Akash said the pause was due to “internal reasons” and not connected to government pressure.
Fazle Rabbi’s termination letter from ATN Bangla cited “professional misconduct in reporting.” Moniur Rahman confirmed, “The press conference went viral. JRA accused the journalists and threatened a siege if action wasn't taken. That’s why we acted.”
Sazzad Alam Khan Tapu, president of a faction of the Dhaka Union of Journalists, said, “It’s unfortunate that three journalists lost their jobs on the eve of May Day just for asking questions. Fear culture and independent journalism cannot coexist.”
Journalist Fired After Threats
On December 18, Hasnat Abdullah, a former anti-discrimination student movement leader and now an NCP figure, visited the managing director of City Group (which owns Somoy TV) and allegedly pressured them to fire 10 employees. Five journalists were told to resign, and when they refused, termination letters were sent via WhatsApp that same day.
City Group’s MD Mohammad Hasan confirmed Hasnat’s visit and the pressure. Hasnat, however, denied making threats or submitting a list.
After the August 5 regime change, similar pressure campaigns have reportedly led to firings and editorial shifts at various outlets.
Senior journalist Masud Kamal commented, “Journalism in Bangladesh today is under serious threat, mostly due to media owners. Most of them are corrupt and seek government favor. Whether or not the government intervenes directly, these owners act to protect their interests. I don’t know if anyone in the government made a call—but I believe these three journalists asked the right questions.”
He added, “A tough question is one that unsettles the respondent. As for the mob threat—it’s a weak excuse. Look at what happened outside Prothom Alo; the crowd there was even bigger. Did they change their policy? If the ownership is strong, such situations can be dealt with.”
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