Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has termed the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) –according to which Bangladeshi journalists are “exposed to police violence, attacks by political activists and murders orchestrated by Jihadist or criminal organizations” – “malicious”.

Reporters Sans Frontières criticise the Information and Communication Technology Act in Bangladesh saying that media self-censorship is growing as a result of the endemic violence against journalists and media outlets in the country.

Bangladesh has moved two notches up to 144th position among 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index-2016 prepared by Reporters Sans Frontières. But the Paris-based advocacy group voices serious concern over the state of freedom of expression in Bangladesh.