Speaking at a discussion, senior journalists demanded safety of media persons and financial security for them.

Bangladesh Centre for Development, Journalism and Communication organised the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of Bangladesh Observer, said political violence and social unrest make journalism risky in Bangladesh and identified attacks on the lives of journalists as a threat to press freedom.

New Nation Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin said collision of roles between newspaper editor and owner often undermines press freedom.

"Without financial security, there could neither be professionalism nor press freedom," noted Sohrab Hasan, assistant editor of daily Sangbad.

Official Secrets Act is a major impediment to press freedom, said Shawkat Mahmud, general secretary of the Jatiya Press Club. He also asked the government to form a press commission for journalists.

Managing Editor of The Daily Star Syed Fahim Munayem, who moderated the discussion, said, "Full press freedom is there in the country, but we have to examine how far newspapers and journalists are free."

Among others, Gias Kamal Chowdhury, Reazuddin Ahmed, editor of The News Today, Motiur Rahman Chowdhury, Manabjamin chief editor, Sirajuddin Ahmed, editor of daily Dinkal, Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of daily Janakantha, Channel i Chief News Editor Shah Alamgir and Weekly Ananya Editor Tasmima Hossain participated in the discussion.

Human rights coalition Odhikar and newly formed media watchdog Article 39 jointly organised a discussion at Odhikar's office in Gulshan in the afternoon.

Speakers there asked the government to immediately enact and implement the proposed right to information act for ensuring people's fundamental right to know.

Farid Hossain, Dhaka bureau chief of the Associated Press, presented a keynote paper on "Threats on Fair Journalism: State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh" and Dr Asif Nazrul, adviser of Article 39 and teacher of Dhaka University's law department, presented another paper on "Right to Information Act" at the discussion chaired by Odhikar Director Masud Alam Ragib Ahsan.

According to a report prepared by Odhikar, five journalists were killed and 281 others injured in the country in criminal attacks during January 2001 to December 2003.

The report said 864 media personnel were repressed and harassed and of them 54 were arrested during the period.

In 2003, 65 journalists were injured, 19 arrested, two abducted, 41 assaulted, 90 threatened with death and 62 sued, it added.

Three journalists were killed, 102 injured, 30 arrested, three kidnapped, 39 assaulted, 147 threatened and 139 others sued in 2002 while two journalists were killed and 114 were injured and five arrested in 2001.

Media for People, a media-based organisation, holds a discussion and candle lighting programme at Liberation War Museum in Segun Bagicha at 6:00 this evening to mark the day. Different organisations will also hold various programmes across the country on the occasion.