Here is a summarized and humanized perspective on the recent briefing from the Prime Minister’s Office:
At the five-month milestone of the current administration, the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Ruman, stepped forward to address the evolving relationship between the government and the media. Speaking from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ruman emphasized a core pillar of the current political philosophy: the unwavering commitment to press freedom. He drew a sharp contrast between the past two decades of governance—which he described as a period plagued by restrictive “black laws” and constant intervention—and the present, where the media is expected to function as an independent pillar of society. His message was clear: the government views the press as an essential partner in democracy, provided that partnership is built on the bedrock of journalistic integrity.
However, this commitment to openness has come with a growing concern regarding the conduct of some modern media practitioners. Ruman expressed visible frustration with what he termed “unethical journalism,” specifically pointing toward the rise of mobile or independent digital reporters. While the government welcomes scrutiny and transparency, he argued that this freedom is sometimes being exploited to disseminate misinformation. For an administration that is still finding its footing after taking over a country reportedly burdened by years of debt and institutional instability, the pressure of navigating public perception while contending with what they perceive as deliberate distortion is becoming an increasingly heavy load.
A central point of contention in his remarks was the manipulation of narratives during recent student protests. Ruman shared a pointed anecdote: after receiving reports of small gatherings in areas like Uttara, he examined footage that suggested larger crowds. Upon verification, it turned out that a significant portion of the “protesters” in the videos were actually mobile journalists themselves, actively participating in or orchestrating the scene. To the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, this was not just a case of inaccurate reporting; it was an act of instigation. Ruman condemned this practice, suggesting that when journalists blur the lines between reporting on a movement and fueling it, they compromise the credibility of the entire industry.
The briefing also served as a moment for the administration to ask the public and the press for a degree of “breathing room.” Ruman noted that five months is an incredibly short window to reverse nearly two decades of systemic challenges. He framed the current government’s struggle not just as a political effort, but as a collective endeavor to rebuild broken agencies and restore national stability. There is a palpable sense of impatience from both the public and some media outlets, and the government’s response is that the magnitude of the mess left behind cannot be cleared overnight. If the foundations of the nation are to be rebuilt, the government argues, they need a fair playing field to do so.
Ultimately, the tone of the press conference moved away from political rhetoric and toward a more personal appeal. Ruman emphasized that the officials in the room see themselves as peers to the journalists—people who have stood alongside the media in the past and hope to continue doing so in the future. By saying, “We are your own people,” he was attempting to bridge the gap between the government and the press corps. It was a call for a shift in tone, urging journalists to prioritize truth over sensationalism. The message was meant to be a reminder that, while the government is held accountable by the press, the media also carries a heavy moral responsibility for the stability of a nation in transition.
As the press conference concluded, with insights added by advisers Mahdi Amin and AAM Saleh Shibly, the underlying sentiment remained one of cautious optimism. The government is signaling that it is open to criticism, but it is taking a firm stance against what it views as weaponized misinformation. For the press, the challenge moving forward is to navigate this new era of freedom without falling into the traps of unethical practices. As the country moves past this five-month mark, the hope from the Prime Minister’s Office is that both the government and the media can move toward a more constructive, transparent, and—most importantly—honest relationship.