It is rather disappointing how the interim government’s final attempt at media reform has left behind more questions than answers. 

By rushing through draft ordinances that ignored the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission, we cannot help but agree with Transparency International Bangladesh that the government has squandered the chance to set a precedent for genuine independence. 

This is a government that had plenty of time to act to bring about meaningful change but instead, the media landscape remains vulnerable to bureaucratic control and political influence.

As we prepare for a newly elected government after February 12, the lesson is clear: Media reform cannot be treated as an afterthought. 

The press has suffered tremendously in our country, not just over the past decade and a half, but throughout our history. A free press is the foundation of accountability for any nation with democratic aspirations and without it, governance will always be synonymous with opacity and intimidation.

As such, we hope to see decisive action sooner rather than later, with the establishment of an independent commission that covers all forms of media and is free from bureaucratic interference while ensuring transparency and accountability.

Moreover, we need a country that respects and protects journalists from intimidation and violence, and simultaneously understands the value of elevating professional standards through training and ethics. 

The incoming parliament must recognize that media reform is a litmus test when it comes to democratic renewal. Every nation is better off when it has a press that is independent, credible, and fearless.