National Committee of the NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah has raised sharp concerns over the state of journalism in Bangladesh, pointing to systemic issues and intelligence overreach. In a statement, Hasnat wrote that the absence of dedicated broadcasting laws allows the government to arbitrarily shut down TV channels. Journalists often face extreme financial insecurity—with many Dhaka-based reporters earning as little as Tk 8,000–10,000 a month, while regional journalists frequently work unpaid, sometimes even paying out of pocket for press IDs. He emphasized that most newspapers still follow the outdated 2013 Wage Board, which is non-mandatory and largely ignored by owners. Salary backlogs of 4–5 months are common, and job security is virtually nonexistent. “Above all, political and intelligence agency interference—especially from DGFI—is the greatest barrier to independent journalism,” Hasnat claimed. “Failure to follow their directives can result in ad boycotts, business blockades for media owners, and harassment. Journalists are even forced into political lobbying. This is compounded by corporate influence.”