Dhaka: Speakers on Saturday urged journalists to stick to their professional ethics and work to their full capacity to ensure a free, fair and participatory election.

The observations came from a seminar - ‘Media Engagement for Fair Elections’ - arranged by Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies auditorium.

Journalists, politicians, civil society leaders and academicians shared views at the event presided over by CGS Chairman Dr M Ataur Rahman. Former caretaker government adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman was the guest of honour. New Age Editor Nurul Kabir was the keynote speaker while CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman moderated the event.

Kabir said the media should take a proactive role in defending democratic norms of the election. ‘The media, after all, is expected to play the role of a ‘watch dog’ in the society,’ he said.

Hossain Zillur Rahman pointed out the political affiliations of journalists, saying they should draw a line.

‘The election is at its final stage and the media will play a crucial role. But the media cannot determine the outcome of the polls,’ he said.

‘Media workers should return to their professional integrity,’ he said. ‘Our media should show what the people are thinking.’

Dr Ataur Rahman said journalists were capable of bridging the gap between voters and parties and act as watchdogs to ensure a fair election.

CGS Vice-Chairman Dr Manjur Ahmed Chowdhury criticised ‘some media outlets’ for ‘shamelessly publishing propaganda and attempting to promote alternative narratives.’

He noted that the people were gradually choosing social media over the mainstream media. ‘This increases the risk of the spread of misinformation. To counter that, the people should be provided with correct information,’ he said.

Awami League Advisory Committee Member Advocate Yusuf Hussain Humayun said every election in Bangladesh’s history had been questioned.

‘It doesn’t mean that all of them were illegal,’ he said, adding that the Election Commission was working on organising the polls as per the Constitution.

Humayun also criticised journalists for not highlighting the government’s development efforts.

But BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu condemned the ‘biasness’ in the media, saying it was ‘ruining the political atmosphere.’

South Asia Monitor Executive Editor Chandan Nandy drew attention to the alleged foreign involvement in Bangladeshi elections. He said the media should work objectively while exposing links between political parties and intelligence agencies.

Former election commissioner brigadier general (retd) M Shakhawat Hussain, Daily Manab Zamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Dr Syed Anwar Husain, Daily Prothom Alo consultant Ayesha Kabir, G-9 General Secretary Dr Shakhawat Hossain Sayantha, former Supreme Court registrar Ikteder Ahmed, and Daily Dinkal Editor Rezwan Siddiqui, among others, spoke at the programme.