The Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, has called for safeguarding press freedom as well as ensuring the safety of journalists. He made the appeal in a post on his verified Facebook page last Friday night.
In the Facebook post, the BNP Acting Chairman said, “On this World Press Freedom Day, let us unite to champion the independence of the press and the protection of journalists who report on the truth, with ethical integrity."
He also said, “Journalists serve as a vital pillar of democracy; their work must be protected and embraced, not attacked or censored. Yet in Bangladesh, we witnessed the systematic erosion of the press freedom under state-sponsored repression by the recently deposed authoritarian regime..”
He further added, “During those dark years, through unwavering courage and commitment, many Bangladeshi journalists shone a light on matters ranging from deep rooted corruption, horrific human rights violations, and socio-economic failures, all by the state. These brave journalists were found across the mainstream and social media, at home and abroad, remaining steadfast in their pursuit of the truth, fighting for a democratic Bangladesh and upholding fundamental values of expression.”
Pointing out the fact that BNP respects and takes inspiration from fearless journalism, He also wrote, “Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP draws inspiration from a new brand of journalism that upholds the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We respect fearless and objective reporting, even when it may not align with our agenda. We stand firm in our belief that a free and independent media makes or breaks a democracy. Journalism with integrity and objectivity should serve the people above politics.”
Tarique Rahman further noted in his Facebook post, “If we are to have a strong and sustainable democracy, journalistic integrity and freedom must be maintained. Let us set aside all differences, to build a Bangladesh where elected, accountable governments ensure the freedom of expression, human rights, and the rule of law for all, including that of the press.”
bd-pratidin/Rafid
