Bangladesh has a long way to go in ensuring press freedom

Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed of DOT
Freedom of the press means the right of newspapers to publish stories and articles without being controlled by the government.
Freedom of the press refers to the circulation and publication of materials in newspapers, magazines and other formats such as social or electronic media platforms without restrictions implemented by governments. It is still necessary for the press to obey legislation regarding libel, obscenity and copyright, however. Freedom of the press encourages independent expression and communication in democracies, with its preservation being sought through legal or constitutional protections. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is one such safeguard. The antithesis of freedom of speech is censorship, whereby journalists and media outlets are prevented from expressing political opinions.
The United Kingdom has fallen in a ratings system which measures freedom of the press, according to a report by Reporters Without Borders.
Bangladesh secured 150th position in the World Press Freedom Index 2019 rankings, whereas Norway took the top position and Turkmenistan (180th) in the bottom. Other than Bangladesh, elsewhere in South Asia the overall situation was deadly for reporters.
In Afghanistan (121st) 16 media professionals were killed, six in India (140th) and three in Pakistan (142nd) in 2018, the RSF index states.
Physical violence against journalists is encouraged by the fact that the perpetrators usually enjoy complete impunity, Reporters Without Borders said in the index report.
“This tragic toll was accompanied by an increase in violence coming from all quarters, including the security forces, organized crime and political activists,” RSF said.
Previously, in the World Press Freedom Index 2017, UK dropped two places to sit at 40th in the league table. This led commentators to claim this is ‘a worrying trend’ for the UK, while Norway came first on the index and was described by the non-governmental organization as ‘faultless’.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stipulated under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In order to make freedom of expression a reality, there must be a legal and regulatory environment that allows for an open and pluralistic media sector to emerge, a political will to support the sector and rule of law to protect it; laws ensuring access to information, especially information in the public domain; and the necessary media literacy skills among news consumers to critically analyze and synthesize the information they receive to use it in their daily lives and to hold the media accountable for its actions.
These elements, along with media professionals adhering to the highest ethical and professional standards designed by practitioners, serve as the fundamental infrastructure on which freedom of expression can prevail. On this basis media serves as a watchdog, civil society engages with authorities and decision-makers, information flows through and between communities.
Article 39 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh also provides that subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence; the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and expression; and freedom of the press are guaranteed.
Therefore, press freedom is guaranteed under the Constitution also.
We must not forget that ensuring freedom for the media around the world is a priority. Independent, free and pluralistic media are central to good governance in democracies that are young and old. A free media can ensure transparency, accountability and the rule of law; promote participation in public and political discourse, and contribute to the fight against poverty. An independent media sector draws its power from the community it serves and in return empowers that community to be full a partner in the democratic process.
Freedom of information and freedom of expression are the founding principles for open and informed debate. New technology will continue to evolve and allow citizens to further shape their media environments as well as access a plurality of sources. The combination of access to information and citizen participation in media can only contribute to an increased sense of ownership and empowerment.
Therefore, Bangladesh as a country must take significant efforts in ensuring press freedom. Though Bangladesh has gone far in ensuring press freedom under the leadership of our current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we have a long way to go.
Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed is the Executive Editor of Daily Our Time.