Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW Vol. 5 Num 539 Fri. December 02, 2005       Letters to Editor How free is our press? Moinul Alam, Eskaton Garden Road Dhaka To someone who is a newcomer in the country at first sight it might appear that here the press and the media are enjoying absolute freedom. The government (both the Awami League and the BNP) has been saying so. But is that really true? As an ordinary person whatever information I am receiving is by virtue of the newspaper and the electronic media. But unfortunately every day very few numbers of good news items are published. In Bangladesh the media men are doing the riskiest job. The job becomes even more horrible when they are searching for true stories. In Bangladesh the governments have never been satisfied with the media. Because it is through the media general people learn what wrongs the government is doing; therefore the government has to suffer an image crisis. The stories concerning government's connection with various allegations of corruption and terrorism are the irritants. But it is the media which every time reveals the truth. For example, it is the media that first of all brought Bangla Bhai to the limelight. Although the government rejected all the stories but following Aug 17 those stories are proving to be true. Unfortunately, in recent times few top ministers were angry with the media and they blamed it for everything. A few days back it was also alleged that a newsman was manhandled by a state minister. It has been learnt that the government is preparing to make a new law with provisions of punishment for the media men. In Bangladesh there is existence of yellow journalism but it is very rare. Such laws are necessary to tackle yellow journalism. But any attempt to apply the law to prevent constructive journalism would be unfair and the government would be affected as the election is getting near. Oppressions on the journalists are on as well. Few days back the police beat a reporter from Channel-i mercilessly although he gave his identity! We have seen how Tipu Sultan was tortured during regime of the previous government. The journalists are sacrificing their lives as well. But the government of the day possesses an adverse impression about them. But we have to change our attitude, as we should learn to accept the truth. Nowadays it is seen that the media workers are divided into factions carrying the banners of various political parties. So, when one newspaper or channel is publishing news about the irregularities committed by either government or the opposition their supporter newspapers and channels are denying it expressly. So, we the general readers are in a dilemma as to the acceptability of the news. So, journalists have to be cautious about politics. If the politics claws over the society of the media men they will lose unity among them and when their rights would be at stake, they will suffer indeed.