Blatant attack on press freedom and freedom of expression
THE suspension of broadcasting of Ekushey Television, Bangla Vision and Islamic TV, allegedly at the behest of certain government agencies, during their live coverage of the grand rally, organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance in the capital on Monday, for about three and a half hours from 3.00pm almost an hour before the leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson started her speech makes a mockery of the claim made more often than not by the key functionaries of the government, including the prime minister, that they have ensured media freedom and free flow of information. As a member of the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh is quoted in a report of New Age on Tuesday as saying, they were forced to switch off transmission of the three channels. Moreover, as an official of Bangla Vision claimed that the channel was blacked out immediately after someone, presumably in the government, asked them to stop the live telecast of the programme. It may be pertinent to recall that, according to media reports on Monday, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the governments monitoring and licensing authority on telecast, advised all TV channels not to broadcast the rally live. All this, suffice it to say, is not only obstruction of free flow of information but also violation of the citizens right to know and, above all, freedom of expression, enshrined in the constitution.
Unfortunately, contrary to the Awami Leagues electoral pledge to ensure freedom of all types of mass media and flow of information, the government has thus far shown a growing predilection for establishing its control over the media, print and electronic, apparently as a part of its move to constrict the space for dissenting voices. It forced Channel One, a private television which was believed to be pro-opposition, to close operation permanently on tenuous ground in April 2010. Thereafter, in June 2010, it ordered discontinuation of publication of a national Bangla daily, which is generally critical of the incumbents policies and actions; the daily has since resumed operation by dint of a verdict of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Besides, in May of the same year, it blocked access to Facebook and YouTube after some satirical images of the prophet of Islam alongside some leaders of the country were posted online; it was eventually forced to retreat in the midst of widespread criticism and condemnation.
Freedom of expression is the signature of a democratic polity. Hence, the incumbents, who claim to be committed to democratic ideals and values, would be well-advised to not make any more attempts to restrict free flow of information and constrict press freedom.
New Age | Newspaper
THE suspension of broadcasting of Ekushey Television, Bangla Vision and Islamic TV, allegedly at the behest of certain government agencies, during their live coverage of the grand rally, organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance in the capital on Monday, for about three and a half hours from 3.00pm almost an hour before the leader of the opposition and BNP chairperson started her speech makes a mockery of the claim made more often than not by the key functionaries of the government, including the prime minister, that they have ensured media freedom and free flow of information. As a member of the Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh is quoted in a report of New Age on Tuesday as saying, they were forced to switch off transmission of the three channels. Moreover, as an official of Bangla Vision claimed that the channel was blacked out immediately after someone, presumably in the government, asked them to stop the live telecast of the programme. It may be pertinent to recall that, according to media reports on Monday, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the governments monitoring and licensing authority on telecast, advised all TV channels not to broadcast the rally live. All this, suffice it to say, is not only obstruction of free flow of information but also violation of the citizens right to know and, above all, freedom of expression, enshrined in the constitution.
Unfortunately, contrary to the Awami Leagues electoral pledge to ensure freedom of all types of mass media and flow of information, the government has thus far shown a growing predilection for establishing its control over the media, print and electronic, apparently as a part of its move to constrict the space for dissenting voices. It forced Channel One, a private television which was believed to be pro-opposition, to close operation permanently on tenuous ground in April 2010. Thereafter, in June 2010, it ordered discontinuation of publication of a national Bangla daily, which is generally critical of the incumbents policies and actions; the daily has since resumed operation by dint of a verdict of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Besides, in May of the same year, it blocked access to Facebook and YouTube after some satirical images of the prophet of Islam alongside some leaders of the country were posted online; it was eventually forced to retreat in the midst of widespread criticism and condemnation.
Freedom of expression is the signature of a democratic polity. Hence, the incumbents, who claim to be committed to democratic ideals and values, would be well-advised to not make any more attempts to restrict free flow of information and constrict press freedom.
New Age | Newspaper
a gag order after being it already being published! the country is a lost cause when journos are getting arrested.
