If a media outlet is sycophantic, it will be shut down: home advisor

Brig Gen M Sakhawat Hussain, the interim government's advisor for home affairs, has warned the media against sycophancy.

He made the remarks while visiting police personnel injured in the recent violence at the Dhaka Central Police Hospital on Monday.

“Sycophancy shown by any media will lead to its closure. I repeat, if the media is sycophantic, it will be shut down,” said the home advisor.

He also remarked that the media has not previously highlighted the truth.

“You did not present the facts correctly. If you had told the truth about what was happening during that time, then today, the police would not be in this situation. It was repeatedly said that nothing happened. I saw it on the BBC, but our media did not say anything about it. Shame on you. shame on the media owners,” said Sakhawat.

The home advisor also urged talk shows not to invite sycophants.

“No intellectual conversations take place on talk shows. The country has become talentless. Don’t call sycophants. Don’t be a sycophantic media. Please put accurate information in the media and make sure the focus is on those in power. A nation sinks when the media lies.”

He also said: “Bangladeshi politics has become sycophantic. It has ruined the country.”

“You did not create politicians; you created sycophants. Such sycophants have been created that even when people are dying, they say, ‘No, everything is fine.’ Politics cannot be done with a group of sycophants. People involved in politics can’t leave it. At least avoid sycophancy,” added Sakhawat.

“These sycophants go in front of the media and speak for hours. Where have they fled now?