Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has criticised sections of the media, alleging that many news outlets have become representatives of business interests rather than independent media organisations.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday (14 June), the minister said the media sector was facing significant challenges and urged journalists to uphold professional standards.

“The media's problems are now enormous. The biggest problem is that the media is no longer truly media. If you want to understand what sycophancy looks like, look at parts of the media. We saw during the last regime how such sycophancy operated,” he said.

Addressing journalists, Mirza Fakhrul said he hoped media professionals who had opposed such practices in the past would use their experience to strengthen independent journalism.

“We hope that you have emerged from that period and have fought against it. Use that experience positively. We are with you,” he added.

The minister also paid tribute to former President Ziaur Rahman, saying he had worked to develop every sector of the state and had played a key role in promoting Bangladeshi nationalism.

“Ziaur Rahman fostered the development of Bangladeshi nationalism as a national identity. He institutionalised democracy as the best form of governance and sought to revitalise the country's fragile economy,” Fakhrul said.