EDITOR
An extraordinary occurrence transpired within the chambers of the United Nations Security Council. Sam Altman, Chief Executive Officer of OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, Chief Executive Officer of Anthropic—executives representing two organizations that maintain intense competitive rivalry within the artificial intelligence sector—articulated their perspectives utilizing remarkably congruent terminology.
Our discussion of artificial intelligence usually gets stuck at two extremes. At one end is the story of limitless possibilities: more jobs, easier access to services, and faster national development. At the other is the fear of a distant future—whether machines will one day surpass humans. What receives far less attention is the space in between: who is using AI to cause harm today, and how. The information needed to answer that question largely sits on the servers of technology companies. Unless they choose to disclose it, the rest of us know very little.
Today, I wish to share a narrative regarding a darkness that the media in Bangladesh is hesitant to confront. It is a realm afflicted by exploitation, disdain, and humiliation, yet none of the nation’s prominent editors, tenacious investigative journalists, esteemed columnists, or well-known talk-show commentators appear capable of addressing its suffering.
A new international conflict has emerged over the dominance of the artificial intelligence technology sector. Similar to past global rivalries, one faction is spearheaded by the United States, while the opposing faction is led by China and Russia. As anticipated, it was the United States that instigated this latest competition. On December 12, 2025, during the concluding day of the International Tech Summit in Washington, D.C., the Pax Silica Alliance was formed through an agreement signed by 25 nations.
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission commenced its operations on January 31, 2002. Its inaugural office was located in the 'Style Nahar' building on Road No. 135, Gulshan-1. The first chairman was Syed Margub Morshed, who previously served as the Establishment Secretary of the Bangladesh Government. At that time, I was employed as a staff reporter for the daily Sangbad. Approximately a month after the BTRC began its functions, I was assigned to visit the new BTRC office. I was tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into this new commission. The then Chief Reporter of the newspaper, Kashem Humayun Bhai, noted down various questions regarding the responsibilities of the commission and its potential impact on telecommunication companies, which were sent along with my assignment.
A new discussion has emerged regarding whether journalism qualifies as a creative profession. Two significant questions have surfaced in this context. The first is, what criteria will be established for state acknowledgment as a professional journalist? The second is, will journalists be regarded as professionals akin to lawyers, teachers, doctors, and engineers, or will they be viewed as specialized 'creative individuals' similar to writers, poets, and artists? In addition to these two inquiries, another pressing question arises: is journalism a cursed profession?