Editorial
Press Freedom Day
Free press is a true friend of the govt and opposition
On a great day like World Press Freedom Day, it's only appropriate to take stock of the performance of the press in Bangladesh, especially since 1991, which marked the restoration of democracy in the country. By the same token, there can never be a better opportunity than now to examine the relations the press has had over the years with both the government and opposition parties. As our emblem proclaims, we are committed to the people's right to know and know the truth. We have never been deterred from that path, none of the adversities for telling the truth could compel us to be distracted from our objective, our article of faith.But when the truth gets twisted or rather given a false interpretation by our political leaders, perhaps to cover up their own faults, we simply can not remain a mute spectator. Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil put words into the press' mouth for his now infamous declaration of bringing down the government by April 30. He claimed that it was not him, but the press which set the date. On the other hand, secretary general of the ruling BNP, Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, apologised for arresting innocent people but also termed the media reports based on interviews with those same innocent people 'motivated' or exaggerated. In other words, though we told the truth, we are being blamed for doing so. We are ready to admit our flaws; in fact, we have always been the first to have admitted our mistakes. But when the faults of political parties are brought up, we are flayed; we become their opponents. Sadly, both Awami League and BNP followed the same antagonistic path vis-a-vis the media whether they were in the opposition or in the government. They always took criticism personally and as an affront, rather than as feedback, alleging that the press was running an anti-government propaganda. What they fail to understand is that whatever the independent press discloses, after thorough investigation, it does so conscientiously and out of an inherent sense of responsibility and obligation to its readers. Independent press does not have any axe to grind with any government or against it. Actually, the readers who are our ultimate judges, will not allow us to survive if our reports and commentaries lacked in objectivity. It is high time the political parties took our suggestions seriously, because we strongly believe had they listened to us, they would only have been the gainer and not landed in a mess they have.
|
|
