Freedom
of Expression in Jeopardy
The
uninterrupted flow of information is a must for the good governance.
The concept of "Open Government" means where citizens have
access to the government policy which uphold the participation of the
democracy. The people's rights to know, have to be enshrined so that
they can serve as a watchdog in flourishing the democracy.
Article
39 of our constitution guaranteed the freedom of speech with some reasonable
restrictions. These restrictions have been proclaimed to stop the abuse
of exercising this power by unscrupulous vested quarter. Unless the
flow of information appears detrimental to the interest of the state,
gagging the freedom of thought is a flagrant infringement of human rights.
International human rights campaigner define freedom of expression in
three ways, as an aspect of human dignity, as the best means of ascertaining
the truth and as a fundamental underpinning of democracy.
Recently
the IGP of police issued an order that the police personnel below the
rank of police super will not be allowed to divulge any information
to the press or media. This decision is tantamount to violation of human
rights and this will pave the way for mal-administration especially
in a country like Bangladesh where democracy is at embryonic stage.
Putting a rein on the journalists will blur the democratic process as
they are acting like a mirror of the nation. If citizens can not see
what is going on within the government, mismanagement and corruption
will go unabated. This is not the first time government is in a bid
to embark on stamping the natural efflux of information. Couple of month
back the National Security Intelligence Agency proposed to the government
to allow them to tap telephone calls and read the e-mails. Government
reportedly agreed and they attributed the skyrocketing trend in the
rise of crime to implementing this policy. There are thousand of alternative
ways to safeguard the security of the state and hampering the privacy
of the individuals is by no means acceptable.
Imran
Ahmed
Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
