Dr. Mahmudur Rahman, joint convener of the National Editors Council and editor of Amar Desh, described Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the icon of fascism in independent Bangladesh. He made the remark on June 16, 2026, at a discussion titled “Media under Awami Rule and the Spirit of the July Uprising,” organized by the Bangladesh Association of Journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity. He argued that the Awami League’s political history represents a shift from autocracy to fascism and claimed there was no difference between Sheikh Mujib and Sheikh Hasina in their approach to governance and media control.

Mahmudur Rahman criticized both leaders for fostering a culture of flattery in the media and urged journalists to reject sycophancy and political interference. He compared the Rakkhi Bahini to the Rapid Action Battalion, calling the former its predecessor, and said that the suppression of press freedom began under Sheikh Mujib. He called for self-criticism and professional integrity among journalists to restore media independence.

The event was chaired by journalist M. Abdullah and attended by State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasir Khan Chowdhury. Professor Abdul Latif Masum presented a paper analyzing the July 2024 uprising and its implications for media and democracy in Bangladesh.