On May 3 every year, since 1991, the World Press Freedom Day is observed to recognise the sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom of the press and to put pressure on the numerous countries where the basic human rights of the citizens are denied by the state.

In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day, a tribute that came from UNESCO General Conference in 1991 recognising a free, pluralistic and independent press as an essential component for any democratic society.

The Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states " everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of opinion."

Without free, independent and pluralistic media, how can the public make informed electoral choices, review the public decision-making process or have effective input into public affairs? Consequently, journalists play a vital role in the democratic process, but it may attract certain risks.

Since the inception of democracy (although it is debatable whether true democracy has been established) in the country, the print media have been enjoying more freedom compared to that during the autocratic rule.

But control over print media still exists. The government tries to suppress the voice of print media through unjust distribution of government advertisements and allocation of newsprint.

But the case of freedom in country's electronic media is different than that of print media. It is better not discuss about the state owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) as the only task of BTV is to serve the interest of the government.

The BTV and Bangladesh Betar hardly reflect the opinions and wishes cherished by the mass people. The BTV and Bangladesh Betar are run by the money of the mass people of the country but their opinions are ignored by these two state owned media.

During the mass upsurge in 1990's, major political parties of Bangladesh pledged to give autonomy to the state owned electronic media. But even after 13 years of establishment of democracy in the country, the autonomy of BTV and Bangladesh Betar is not in sight. It seems that ruling parties, whenever and whoever in power, cannot imagine to give autonomy to state owned media. They think that their control over information dissemination would be lost if the BTV and Bangladesh Betar are given autonomy.

It is a matter of great hope that currently there are three Bangladeshi private satellite television channels are in operation. Another popular private television channel, which had been under operation for about three years, had to close its operation as a sequel of legal battle.

But the audiences of the private television channels are limited within the boundary of metropolitan cities of the country. Viewers of the private television channels are not significant at all in proportion compared to the population of Bangladesh. The more private terrestrial channels would be allowed to operate, the more audience would be benefited.

Moreover governments of our country perhaps try to give licence for private television to those who are loyal to them. Another question that always comes up in the mind of common people is, can our private television channels telecast every news they gather?

The news of the private television channels is based on coverage of daily events such as meeting, seminar and symposium and sometimes press note issued by the government. Investigative reporting are almost absent in the all television channels of the country. They hardly reveal the corruption of government.

So people have to rely on newspapers for detail and investigative news. The readership of newspaper is increasing day by day in the country. Newspapers are considered to be the fourth estate. But as it was earlier mentioned the governments try to manipulate the newspapers through unjust allocation of government advertisement and newsprint.

Activists of the ruling party swoop on the newsmen if any report goes against their interest. Day by day, the country's south-western region is becoming vulnerable more and more. Reporters have to face danger for their writings. It is alleged that criminals are always harboured by stalwarts. So attackers are hardly punished.

On January 15 this year, Manik Shaha, a well-known journalist of country's south- western region, was bombed to death near Khulna press club. After the death of Manik Shaha information minister Tariqul Islam promised to bring the killers to book. The case of Manik Shaha killing is now hanging in balance as even after three months of his killing, the intelligence agency has failed to find any effective clue of the murder.

Killers of another journalist Shamsur Rahman are yet to be punished. Shamsur Rahman was murdered on July 16, 2000. The then home minister Mohammed Nasim also pledged to give exemplary punishment to the killers. But the Awami League government failed to do that during their tenure.

The case of Shamsur Rahman was handed over to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). After ten months of investigation CID submitted the charge sheet on May 20, 2002 accusing 16 people including one Awami Leaguer. But after coming to the power, the current government reinvestigated the case where name of another journalist was included.

The killers of journalists go unpunished because of biased investigation and lengthy process of country's judicial system.

Sometimes statements of political leaders encourage the criminals to attack journalists. Leaders of the ruling parties allege that journalists always expose the wrong things of the government. But politicians should keep in mind that it is not the duty of the journalists to write in favour of or against the ruling party or government. The duty of journalists is to reveal incidents objectively. While doing so, if any report goes against anybody, then what the journalists could do?

Mediamen are often accused by the government of tarnishing the image of the country. But who should take the responsibility of improving the image of the country? Is it the responsibility of government or journalists? Newsmen are interested to expose the success of the country. But for that reason, government has to create the ground reality.

It is a matter of regret that ruling parties in Bangladesh always perceive the mediamen as their enemy. Although they do not say it publicly but their activities prove it well.

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York based organisation termed Bangladesh as the Asia's 'most dangerous country for journalists'. This judgment of CPJ drew severe reaction from the government side. There might be a debate centering the word 'most dangerous country' but there is no denying the fact that journalists are still subjected to harassment in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is a country where half of the population still live under the poverty line. We have a lot of work to do in the days to come for establishing good governance and achieving freedom from hunger. The role of free press in establishing a prosperous society cannot be underestimated. Free press is a powerful catalyst of economic and social development.

Former Prime Minister of India and renowned politician of this subcontinent Jawherlal Nehru once said, ' I would rather have a completely free press with all dangers involved in the wrong use of the freedom than a suppressed or a regulated press'.

But as newsmen we don't like to use the media wrongly. Because we think the absolute freedom of the media creates sense of responsibility among journalists and it would happen only when our government would accept the media criticism ungrudgingly.

So on this day, let us think that people have the right to freedom of expression and government accepts media as an ally to establish true democracy in the country. We also hope that no attackers on journalists would go unpunished in the greater interest of the country as mass people rely on media as their last resort to seek justice.

Akbar Hossain is a reporter of The Daily Star.