Suffocating freedom of expression in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
February 10, 2010
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Planning Ministry led by ruling party lawmaker Suranjit Sen Gupta and Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Colonel [retired] Oli Ahmed for the law to consider publishing of news items without accurate information a punishable offence.
The standing committee - which has no direct relevance to journalism - observed that the media have been publishing or broadcasting news stories against different institutions and individuals without giving accurate information.
While the Planning Ministry´s Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended punishing members of media for publishing any news, which might go against any individual or institution [by ´individual´, they of course meant those in power], another parliamentary committee has asked the law ministry to explain its move to amend the code of criminal procedure to stop harassment of journalists, writer and editors.
The law titled ´Code of Criminal Procedure [Amendment] Bill 2010´ proposed not to issue direct warrants of arrest in defamation cases against newsmen before issuing summons. The standing committee on Law Justice and Parliamentary affairs while examining the bill which asked why the journalists will be given this privilege.
Justifying the move to suffocate the voice of media as well freedom of expression, Suranjit Sen Gupta alleged that, they were being ´harassed by journalists´.
It may be mentioned here that, Suranjit´s position was cut to size by the ruling party and he was thrown out of the Presidium Committee of Bangladesh Awami League, for his alleged involvement in conspiring with the military backed interim government in ´minus-two´ formula, which was aimed at excluding both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from command of the two major political parties of the country. While, Colonel [retired] Oli walked out of Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP], as he was not included in the cabinet during 2001-2006. Oli was one of the founding members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party since its inception.
Newspapers in Bangladesh are already compelled to maintained self-censorship to avoid any form of harassment by the state machinery. Private television channels are already instructed to avoid harsh criticism of the government in various talk-shows.
But, while on opposition, Bangladesh Awami League was always voicing in favor of freedom of press and freedom of expression. It was the main beneficiary of free media in Bangladesh as its leaders were able to criticize the previous government as well the military backed interim regime taking the advantage of the free media. But now, after being in power, they have taken a ridiculous U-turn on this issue.
Recently, Advocate Salma Islam, MP of the ruling party´s alliance partner and editor or country´s prominent vernacular daily Jugantor told the parliament that Daily Jugantor and business ventures under her group are being subjected to undue and fabricated criticism by a Minister. Taking the floor in a point of order, she sought protection from the House. It may be mentioned further that, a television channel owned by the same group was recently shut down by the government.
Though the ruling party promised to ensure freedom of media in the electoral manifesto, it is a great concern as to why they have now deviated from their own pledge to the nation.
Previous government in Bangladesh led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party and some Islamist parties were also champion violator of freedom of media. More than seven journalists were charged with sedition during this period, as many of those journalists were criticizing repression of religious minorities in the country. I was charged by that government with sedition, treason and blasphemy for criticizing Islamist militancy and for publishing articles exposing madrassas being used as breeding ground of Jihadists. During that government, portrait of notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden were openly sold in various parts of the country and local Jihadists were flexing muscle almost openly. It was even reported that, BNP-Islamist government were secretly patronization various Islamist groups in the country, including anti-Ahmediya groups, which were continuing devastation on Ahmediya mosques and establishments without any legal hassle.
Unfortunately, the sedition, treason and blasphemy charge, which was brought against me by the previous government, is still under trial in a court in Dhaka. According to Bangladeshi law, sedition bears capital punishment. It is understood that the government is unwilling to drop this false charge fearing reaction from the Islamist fanatics.
Freedom of media is essential for a stable democracy. In India, where democracy has already taken the shape of institution, media enjoys unimaginable freedom. In some cases, Indian media even enjoys better freedom than many of the Western nations. Bangladesh should surely learn this from India.
Any attempt to suffocate freedom of expression or freedom of media would only bring devastating fate for the rulers. Hopefully, the ruling party in Bangladesh will learn from the history. Bangladesh cannot afford to turn into a champion violator of human rights in the world by suffocating freedom of expression.
The standing committee - which has no direct relevance to journalism - observed that the media have been publishing or broadcasting news stories against different institutions and individuals without giving accurate information.
While the Planning Ministry´s Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended punishing members of media for publishing any news, which might go against any individual or institution [by ´individual´, they of course meant those in power], another parliamentary committee has asked the law ministry to explain its move to amend the code of criminal procedure to stop harassment of journalists, writer and editors.
The law titled ´Code of Criminal Procedure [Amendment] Bill 2010´ proposed not to issue direct warrants of arrest in defamation cases against newsmen before issuing summons. The standing committee on Law Justice and Parliamentary affairs while examining the bill which asked why the journalists will be given this privilege.
Justifying the move to suffocate the voice of media as well freedom of expression, Suranjit Sen Gupta alleged that, they were being ´harassed by journalists´.
It may be mentioned here that, Suranjit´s position was cut to size by the ruling party and he was thrown out of the Presidium Committee of Bangladesh Awami League, for his alleged involvement in conspiring with the military backed interim government in ´minus-two´ formula, which was aimed at excluding both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia from command of the two major political parties of the country. While, Colonel [retired] Oli walked out of Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP], as he was not included in the cabinet during 2001-2006. Oli was one of the founding members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party since its inception.
Newspapers in Bangladesh are already compelled to maintained self-censorship to avoid any form of harassment by the state machinery. Private television channels are already instructed to avoid harsh criticism of the government in various talk-shows.
But, while on opposition, Bangladesh Awami League was always voicing in favor of freedom of press and freedom of expression. It was the main beneficiary of free media in Bangladesh as its leaders were able to criticize the previous government as well the military backed interim regime taking the advantage of the free media. But now, after being in power, they have taken a ridiculous U-turn on this issue.
Recently, Advocate Salma Islam, MP of the ruling party´s alliance partner and editor or country´s prominent vernacular daily Jugantor told the parliament that Daily Jugantor and business ventures under her group are being subjected to undue and fabricated criticism by a Minister. Taking the floor in a point of order, she sought protection from the House. It may be mentioned further that, a television channel owned by the same group was recently shut down by the government.
Though the ruling party promised to ensure freedom of media in the electoral manifesto, it is a great concern as to why they have now deviated from their own pledge to the nation.
Previous government in Bangladesh led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party and some Islamist parties were also champion violator of freedom of media. More than seven journalists were charged with sedition during this period, as many of those journalists were criticizing repression of religious minorities in the country. I was charged by that government with sedition, treason and blasphemy for criticizing Islamist militancy and for publishing articles exposing madrassas being used as breeding ground of Jihadists. During that government, portrait of notorious terrorist Osama Bin Laden were openly sold in various parts of the country and local Jihadists were flexing muscle almost openly. It was even reported that, BNP-Islamist government were secretly patronization various Islamist groups in the country, including anti-Ahmediya groups, which were continuing devastation on Ahmediya mosques and establishments without any legal hassle.
Unfortunately, the sedition, treason and blasphemy charge, which was brought against me by the previous government, is still under trial in a court in Dhaka. According to Bangladeshi law, sedition bears capital punishment. It is understood that the government is unwilling to drop this false charge fearing reaction from the Islamist fanatics.
Freedom of media is essential for a stable democracy. In India, where democracy has already taken the shape of institution, media enjoys unimaginable freedom. In some cases, Indian media even enjoys better freedom than many of the Western nations. Bangladesh should surely learn this from India.
Any attempt to suffocate freedom of expression or freedom of media would only bring devastating fate for the rulers. Hopefully, the ruling party in Bangladesh will learn from the history. Bangladesh cannot afford to turn into a champion violator of human rights in the world by suffocating freedom of expression.
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