Press freedom is under serious threat

In a discussion organised by the Editors' Council on Saturday, newspaper editors and academics expressed concern saying that the freedoms of the press and speech in Bangladesh were under serious threat. Despite Article 39 of our constitution guaranteeing the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and expression, as well as freedom of the press, these rights are being attacked from all directions, according to the speakers. We can't agree more.

On the one hand, the adversarial stance of government authorities and various state machineries on the publication of any information revealing their incapacity or incompetence, or criticising them, has often led to the full might of the state being used to crack down upon independent journalists and journalism. On the other hand, the attempted corporate control of the media by different business houses that own media outlets is leading to the stifling of independent journalism from within the industry itself.

The primary asset of any newspaper is its credibility. With the attempted use of different newspapers by corporate owners for their own benefits, that credibility is at risk of fast deterioration. This does not bode well for journalism in the long run. On the flip side, while the government has been attempting to use various tools such as sedition laws, the draconian Digital Security Act (DSA), and the Official Secrets Act of 1923 to crack down on press freedom, the various institutions and mechanisms that are supposed to be in place to safeguard the fundamental rights to free expression and free press have been failing badly. The end result is that the independent press—an essential pillar of any democracy—is under tremendous pressure, which is endangering our democracy, as an informed public is a prerequisite to any functioning democracy.

Whether the government realises it or not, it is losing out, too—as without an independent press, how can it sense the pulse of the citizens? What channels can it rely on for an accurate picture of its performance?

The government needs to seriously reassess many of the laws and mechanisms it has put in place that are stifling freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Instead of seeing every criticism as something of a hostile or conspiratorial nature, the authorities need to understand that the primary function of independent journalism is to shed light on uncomfortable truths which, oftentimes, is the best antidote to many of society's ills. In line with that, it should consult with the Editors' Council to formulate strategies that can help the independent media flourish. Meanwhile, we also hope that corporate owners will refrain from using their positions to force their media houses to become propaganda tools, as that would seriously tarnish the reputation of not only their own outlets, but that of the industry as a whole.