Zillur Rahman, a prominent TV talk-show anchor in Bangladesh, has recently been making waves in the media landscape. Known for his program ‘Tritiyo Matra‘ on Channel-i, Rahman seems to be employing a series of tactics to ensure he remains a hot topic of discussion.
On September 7, 2023, Rahman took to his Facebook to share a concerning update. He stated, “Dear friends. I am writing this post to inform you that my Facebook page (Zillur Rahman), the Center for Governance Studies #CGS page, the Tritiyo Matra & Tritiyo Matra _ page, and my network CCN page have most likely been hacked and taken over by an unknown party. While we are working to fix this issue, please be aware that any kind of communication or request coming from these pages may not be coming from our end.”
Merely a day later, on September 8, he posted another message on his facebook that read, “I’m not dead. And I’ll survive.” The dramatic tone of this post, combined with its timing, suggests that Rahman might be resorting to sensationalism to garner attention in the media. But is this the only controversy surrounding him?
Upon closer examination of his English Facebook posts and articles in Dhaka’s premier English-language newspaper, The Daily Star (TDS), one can’t help but notice a stark difference in the quality of English used. This raises questions about the authenticity of his writings. Could someone else be ghostwriting for him? This speculation gains traction when considering that on September 7, Mahfuz Anam, the editor of TDS, removed all articles by a ghostwriter named Doreen Chowdhury. Anam subsequently apologized for not vetting the content properly. Yet, no explanation has been provided about the continuous publication of Zillur Rahman’s articles, which many believe are penned by ghostwriters.
The ghostwriting controversy doesn’t end there. While TDS took swift action in removing all articles by “Doreen Chowdhury” after a report by AFP highlighted the issue, several other publications haven’t followed suit. Renowned outlets like Dhaka Tribune, New Age, Asia Times, Foreign Policy magazine, Bangkok Post, Modern Diplomacy, Eurasia Review, The Diplomat, The Geopolitics, South Asia Monitor, Geopolitical Monitor, and China Daily still feature content by Doreen Chowdhury. Furthermore, articles by another suspected fake writer, Fumiko Yamada, remain published on various websites.
Interestingly, Eurasia Review seems to be a common platform for these alleged ghostwriters. Numerous articles by writers such as Tilottama Rani Charulata and Mehjabin Bhanu appear on the site. This raises questions about the editorial standards of such publications and the lengths some individuals might go to for publicity.
While Zillur Rahman’s recent Facebook posts have certainly stirred the pot, they might just be the tip of the iceberg. The larger issue at hand is the potential undermining of journalistic integrity through ghostwriting, a practice that seems to be more widespread than previously thought. As readers and consumers of news, it’s crucial to approach every piece of information with a discerning eye and question its authenticity.
