Staff Correspondent

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman today said the judiciary in the past worked as a catalyst in expanding authoritarianism in the country.

"The authoritarianism was taken to its peak (in last 16 years). All the state organizations were gripped and were politicized. Professional bankruptcy was created and judiciary was one of the victims. Unfortunately, judiciary worked as a catalyst in expanding the authoritarianism," he said while addressing a workshop on investigative law reporting organized for the members of Supreme Court Reporters Forum (SRF) at capital's Dhanmandi.

The TIB executive director further said even a section of the media played the same role, as it had surrendered before the authoritarianism and got undue benefits.

"We have seen a mixed picture here. The media as a whole, tried to play its due role amid so much adversity. Even the same goes for the judiciary as well. The more freedom our media will enjoy, the more free and effective judiciary we will get. Many reform activities are going on in different sectors, with formation of different commissions. But we would not get any benefit from any report-based reform, until any change comes in our political culture," he added.

Dr Iftekharuzzaman called upon the political leaders to uphold the core spirit of anti-discrimination movement along with the spirit of the Liberation War, adding, "Unless it is done, it would be very hard even to expect our problems to be solved."

Additional Attorney General Aneek Rushd Haque, who spoke at the workshop on "Law Reporting: Understanding the Judicial System of Bangladesh", urged the newsmen to study more, go through the judgments pronounced by the apex court, and develop interest on case procedure in detail.

TIB Director Mohammad Tauhidul Islam moderated the workshop, while investigative journalist and trainer Badruddoza Babu gave separate lectures on understanding investigative journalism and effective investigative storytelling for print and electronic media.

A good number of SRF, a platform of journalists covering the daily activities at the apex court, members including its president Mas Udur Rahman Rana and general secretary Mohammad Golam Rabbani attended the workshop.

Certificates were distributed at the end of the daylong workshop.