Respect for media freedom declining

World Press Freedom Day will be observed in Bangladesh and elsewhere today, at a time when the climate of fear results in a growing aversion to debate and pluralism around the world, according to a 2016 World Press Freedom Index published on April 20.

The 2016 edition, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), shows there has been a disturbing decline in respect for media freedom at global and regional levels last year.

Bangladesh has been ranked 144th among 180 countries in terms of press freedom in 2015 and went up two steps from last year's position.

"In Bangladesh, it is a bad idea to criticise the constitution or Islam, the state religion," the report added.

It also said journalists and bloggers who refuse to submit to censorship or to censor themselves on these subjects risk life imprisonment or death penalty.

The index ranks countries on indicators such as media independence, self-censorship, rule of law, transparency and abuses.

This year's report warned of a climate of fear that has seen world leaders "developing a form of paranoia about legitimate journalism" observed Christophe Deloire, secretary general of the Paris-based group.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in a statement yesterday urged the government and other stakeholders to create a congenial atmosphere for the journalists so that they can work to ensure the democratic accountability and sustainable development.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern over the section 57 of Information and Communication Technology (amendment) Act-2013, the National Online Mass Media Policy 2015, draft of the Broadcast Act-2016, draft of the Press Council Act's amendment, and some recommendations in the draft to the press council by the Bangladesh Law Commission, that may curb the press freedom.

"The development and positive change of the society cannot be ensured without having scopes of independent and non-biased information and views," he observed.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message said, "Press freedom and the free flow of information are necessary not only to inform citizens about the goals, but also to hold their leaders accountable for fulfilling the pledges…"

The UN declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day in 1993.

Meanwhile, speakers at a seminar in Dhaka University observed that media can play significant role in proper implementation of Right to Information (RTI) Act-2009, to ensure people's rights to ask information of the government and other stake-holders' activities.

Chief Information Commissioner Dr M Golam Rahman said, "It's the government's responsibility to take the people's right to consideration."

He was addressing as the chief guest at a seminar, "Journalists' Access to information: RTI Act-2009," organised by Mass Communication and Journalism department at Social Science Faculty, marking the day.

Dr Shamsul Bari, chairman of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB), gave a keynote speech.