World Press Freedom Day

One very essential ingredient of any functioning democracy is a free press. And in Bangladesh, where press freedom is gravely restricted and is quickly diminishing according to Reporters Without Borders, strengthening press freedom is becoming even more indispensable for the growth of democracy. 

Despite this, we are disturbingly witnessing different laws being manoeuvred into place that is clearly indicative of a constrictive mindset and can greatly endanger press freedoms further. The alleged abuse of sedition laws and of Section 57 of the amended Information Communication Technology Act among others, to curb any form of dissent, not only threatens the freedom of the press, but democracy as a whole, given the intertwining relations between the two and the essential role of the press in a free and democratic society.

Governments and the press in general have always had tense relations given the press's watchdog role in society. In order for the government to be aware of what is happening and how state organs are functioning, however, there is no other tool available to it that is as effective as a free press. Hence, the fact of the matter remains that the role the press plays is of seminal benefit to the government itself.

We hope that the current government and all future ones will understand and come to recognise this. And we urge that the free press in the country be allowed to breathe and function unhindered so that it can perform its duty in safeguarding our democracy.