Banglanews24.com has now entered its 16th year. On this auspicious occasion, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and greetings to all our readers, viewers, well-wishers, and advertisers.
We express our deepest gratitude to those who have stood by Banglanews throughout its long journey. Sixteen years ago, launching an online news portal in the media landscape of Bangladesh was a major challenge. At that time, dreaming of an online news platform was often considered a joke. Overcoming all odds, turning that dream into reality and making it successful—this is what Banglanews represents today. The entire journey demanded tireless effort and immense patience from every member of the team. In particular, over the past sixteen years, Banglanews had to endure severe tests under a suffocating environment created by draconian laws imposed in the name of media regulation. Though the platform never managed to fully escape those constraints, it strived to survive within them. Under authoritarian rule, media outlets were often forced to compromise their principles to meet arbitrary demands. It has been a long and unequal struggle for survival—throughout all sixteen years.
No media outlet remains untouched by the pressures of politics. The actions of some opportunistic journalists have shaken public trust in the profession. Journalism today faces serious questions. After the fall of one regime, the concern now is whether media professionals are simply aligning themselves with the new rulers. Some have left the profession altogether. Others, driven by blind loyalty to political parties or by personal gain, continue to impose censorship within their own newsrooms. As a result, journalism remains a risky profession.
Sheikh Hasina throttled democracy and cracked down on media freedom. She built a system of sycophantic media houses, editors, and journalists. On August 5, after spilling the blood of thousands of students and citizens, she fled the country with her family. Her millions of party followers were left vulnerable and exposed. Today, those ordinary party members are paying the price for the greed and corruption of a few. No one dares to write about this openly. There has still been no complete documentation of sixteen years of looting, murders, enforced disappearances, and killings. The accounts of how ruling party cadres formed armed groups to oppress opposition activists across the country have yet to be properly reported.
On the global stage, especially in the West, major media outlets are also guilty of suppressing the truth. This has been evident in their coverage of Israel’s brutal and sudden attacks on Iran. Western media avoided asking critical questions, instead portraying Iran's nuclear ambitions as a threat and framing Israel’s assault as justifiable. This kind of narrative-building to support unjust aggression was also seen during the U.S. invasion of Iraq—when media outlets helped manufacture public consent by falsely claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The same happened in Afghanistan, where the U.S. invaded under the pretext of fighting Taliban terrorism. But after twenty years of war, the U.S. was forced to withdraw. Despite this humiliating defeat, Western media never reflected on it honestly. Their reporting did not acknowledge the real cost of the war.
The purpose of raising these issues is to understand the role and responsibilities of media in the modern world. Western media have played a significant role in creating justification for regime change and military intervention in Third World countries. As a result, public trust in them—especially among people of Bangladesh and other developing nations—has hit rock bottom.
Social media has now emerged as a more powerful force than traditional media. In Bangladesh, social platforms played a key role in the August 5 uprising. Sixteen years of heavily regulated mainstream media allowed social media to flourish as the dominant voice. Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have become the primary carriers of information. No mainstream media outlet in Bangladesh made any visible stand against fascism. However, Banglanews24.com, as an online news platform, stood with the people and students during those turbulent July days. The Banglanews team stood against the current and took a firm position in favor of the people's movement. It takes pride in having been part of a moment that now allows the nation to breathe freely.
We thank Team Banglanews for the courage to make the right decisions in a time of national crisis. We are also deeply grateful to our readers for their trust and support. To survive in this new era, mainstream media must keep pace with the unstoppable force of social media. Even today, mainstream media remain a vital symbol of credible information. Banglanews has shown the courage to uphold that trust. We will continue to move forward, boldly confronting the challenges of the future.
Once again, congratulations, thank you, and deepest gratitude to all.
Touhidul Islam Mintu
Editor in Charge
MSK/
