Dhaka, Dec 20 (V7N) –Mahmudur Rahman, the editor of Amar Desh newspaper, has said Islamophobia has been present in the country's media since independence, vowing to combat such bigotry through the Bangla daily.
The journalist made the statements during a press at the National Press Club on Friday, to mark the publication resumption of Amar Desh.
He said: "This is our new journey. Please give us one month. When we start a newspaper, there are always mistakes in the first month. Please forgive those mistakes."
While outlining the editorial policy of the newspaper, Mahmudur said: "We will try to provide accurate news. As you know, during Hasina's fascist regime, many newspapers fabricated stories of Islamic militants. Many large newspapers only presented one side of the story, with no input from the victims.
"Only the police and RAB's statements were used to create the news; they did not present both sides. I am an editor... I will not name any newspapers."
He further said: "For the last 17 years, no one had the courage to write against Hasina's family. Amar Desh had already started writing [against them]. Amar Desh's doors will always remain open for the helpless."
Mahmudur continued: "We are a 90% Muslim country, yet the coverage of the Palestine issue in our newspapers is minimal. National newspapers only devote one or two columns on international pages to the Palestine issue. Palestine news does not even make it to the front page.
"We will write about the oppression of Muslims in Kashmir, China's persecution of Muslims, the Rohingya crisis, and all the Muslims being persecuted around the world."
END/MSS/AJ
Comment: