Supporters of the Awami League working in the media are trying to destabilise the country in different ways, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam said on Wednesday.

“Many Awami League people are still working in the media. They may not be seen openly, but most people in the second and third tiers of the media are Awami League supporters. They are trying to create unrest in various ways,” he said.

The adviser made the remarks while speaking at a certificate-giving ceremony for the ‘Investigative Journalism Training for July Fighters’ held at the National Institute of Mass-communication (NIMCO) in Dhaka.

He urged those who took part in the July mass uprising to join the country’s media sector, saying their involvement is needed for the nation’s well-being. “The July fighters must take up the challenge to bring positive change to the media ecosystem,” he said.

Highlighting the ministry’s initiatives for the July fighters, Mahfuj Alam said that under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB), the National Media Institute and the Film and Television Institute (BCTI) are providing training to July fighters and families of the martyrs of the mass uprising. By December, at least 300 participants are expected to receive training in journalism and film.

He expressed hope that the next elected government would continue these training programmes as a moral responsibility.

Addressing the July fighters, the adviser said, “You are July fighters in your spirit and motivation. But you must ensure that your identity as July fighters does not become bigger than your creative work. Your role in your profession should be for truth, for Bangladesh, and for its sovereignty.”

He also urged them to apply the knowledge gained from the training in their workplaces.

The programme was chaired by the Director General of the National Media Institute, Noor Md Mahbubul Haque.

Deputy Directors Mohammad Abu Sadeq and Sumana Parveen also spoke at the event.