Dr. Asif Nazrul, Legal Adviser in the interim government, expressed feeling increasingly restricted since assuming office. Speaking at a seminar titled “Freedom of the Media: Legal Framework for Journalist Protection and Complaint Resolution” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday (June 26), he said he often receives unethical requests, and when he refuses, he faces verbal abuse and is labeled as an agent of foreign interests. He admitted he has never felt this helpless in his life, noting that despite the false accusations directed at him since joining the government, he is unable to respond publicly.

Addressing the issue of legal cases against journalists, Dr. Nazrul noted that while many false cases exist, the number of cases involving journalists is not disproportionately high. He clarified that the Law Ministry does not interfere in decisions regarding bail, including in high-profile cases like that of journalist couple Shakil and Farzana Rupa, and emphasized that bail decisions rest solely with the judiciary.

He also urged journalists to unite, warning that divisions and infighting within the media community only weaken press freedom. Commenting on the broader legal landscape, he acknowledged that many false cases were driven by certain lawyers and political actors for personal gain, and that such practices are difficult to prevent entirely.

Other speakers at the seminar included Bobby Hajjaj, Chairperson of the Nationalist Democratic Movement, who stressed the need for separating media ownership from management and advocated for a non-profit model to ensure genuine media independence. M.A. Aziz, Editor-in-Chief of The Financial Post, remarked that journalists today face trauma and pressure from both ownership and external forces, making their work increasingly hazardous.