Salim Moshiur, Cumilla (South)

The violence of so-called fake media workers has increased drastically throughout the greater Laksam upazila of southern Comilla.

They are posing as journalists by using identity cards of unfamous newspapers and hanging cameras on their shoulders in exchange for money, and are harassing and intimidating them in various circles to extort money. In addition, there have been allegations of free trade with the list of journalists on special days. In addition, those fake media workers are highly regarded in the local administration and political circles.

According to multiple sources, many of the journalists in this region have become big journalists despite not being qualified to be newspaper hawkers! Even though they cannot write or produce news themselves, they are stealing other people's writings or news published in newspapers and defrauding various circles by claiming that they are writing under their own name.

Although several newspapers are published locally, the presence of 5/6 people in various events under the identity of many newspapers has embarrassed senior and genuine journalists. In all the upazilas of the southern part of the district, a group of fake journalists are involved in the business of advertising in various administrative offices including the upazila, municipality and police station or are busy implementing various political agendas as flatterers and flatterers of some political leader.

The sources further said that the presence of more than fifty journalists can be seen in most of the meetings and gatherings in various places in the upazilas of the southern part of the district. Most of them are fake. But whether any news of these people who claim to be journalists will be published in any newspaper or not? No one can answer that. Besides, in this region, they are opening YouTube Face, online portal, Facebook Face and deceiving people of all classes and professions by introducing themselves as journalists. On the other hand, many media workers are going to various programs under the name of live shows and embezzling a lot of money through fraud, and the presence of so-called media workers from the district headquarters is seen at some events.

Multiple sources in the local political circles said that many party people have registered their names in this journalism profession to cover up their misdeeds. They are going to various administration and political circles and spreading slander against real journalists, presenting themselves as famous people from unknown places, and getting tickets for the scam. Many are collecting various newspapers after the news sent by others is published and delivering them to the tables of the concerned people to embezzle cash. Although there are several organizations of senior journalists in all the upazilas of the southern part of Comilla called Press Club, Journalist Association, Journalist Union and Reporter Club, there are more than fifty journalists outside them.

As a result of the misdeeds of illegal and fake journalists in the upazilas, many senior journalists are thinking of leaving this noble profession. Many have withdrawn from this profession. There are various questions in the public mind of the area - many of the journalists are businessmen and employees. But how can those so-called journalists who have no business or job and who are not getting any facilities from the newspaper authorities, manage to rent houses in the city to support their families and relatives?

Many people are of the opinion that it is essential to conduct administrative inquiries in this regard. Several sources from the media community in the southern part of the district also said that there are many genuine and senior journalists in this region. But the leaders of the journalist organizations are largely silent about the so-called journalists. Although journalists are considered the conscience of the country and the nation, the honest journalism profession in this region is on the verge of losing its own tradition due to the misdeeds of the so-called media workers.

Although there are state policies in this regard, they are not implemented. In the meantime, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police Headquarters are preparing to take effective action against those so-called media workers nationwide in this regard. On the other hand, some are roaming around in the identities of several organizations, including human rights activists.