‘They’re more managers than editors’

Senior journalist and columnist Abdul Gaffar Choudhury has questioned the competence of most newspaper editors in Bangladesh.

He expressed his frustration at the editorial quality of the media while speaking at a discussion with journalists at the Press Institute of Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

The London-based writer said: “Most of those who are holding the posts of editor are managers of the (media outlet) owners.”

“No editor now edits news. They feel comfortable managing (media houses).”

“The way the media outlets are distorting and twisting news and taking the side of land grabbers, the species called editor will be soon extinct.”

Choudhury suggested fixing certain minimum academic qualifications and experience as prerequisites for editors.

Journalists Kamal Lohani, Abed Khan, Shah Alamgir and Ishtiaq Reza and cultural personalities Pijush Bandyopadhyay were present at the discussion titled ‘A Day with the Senior’.

The lyricist of the famous Language Movement song -- Amar Bhayer Rokte Rangano Ekushey February -- Choudhury questioned running news on BNP leader Tarique Rahman who called Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ‘a Razakar’.

“He who has made such statements is a brainsick. He is a convicted criminal. Why will the media publish his statements? Who is Tarique?” he said.

Choudhury condemned those who had published Tarique’s statements.