Democracy, space for dissent shrinking

Democratic space in Bangladesh has been gradually shrinking, said NCP Convener Nahid Islam yesterday.

Addressing a programme organised by the NCP-affiliated Democratic Journalist Alliance in Dhaka, the opposition chief whip warned that attempts to portray peaceful protests as disorder could eventually be used to suppress political dissent.

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Nahid said journalists should continue reporting facts objectively, while political parties should play their respective democratic roles.

Referring to recent protests over gas and electricity supplies, he criticised the government for describing such demonstrations as “reckless”.

“Taking to the street and protesting is a legitimate democratic form of movement,” he said. “In a democratic state, I can express any opinion democratically and non-violently. From that perspective, it seems to me that democracy is shrinking,” he said, urging the media to play an impartial role.