Bangladesh media enjoys full freedom now: CA press secretary

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam today said the media is enjoying optimum freedom during the interim government in Bangladesh as it believes in full freedom of journalism. "We have not resisted anyone to write against the government...in the history of Bangladesh, the press did not enjoy such freedom (in the past)," he said while speaking at a discussion here MASTUL Foundation, a non-profit charity organisation, arranged the discussion titled "the Role of Media in Building New Bangladesh" at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).

Speaking as the chief guest, Alam said they want such a Bangladesh where no journalist is injured in covering news. Apart from liability of the government and security agencies, he said the media owners also could not avoid the responsibility for casualties of journalists in gathering news since they do not provide safety equipment for their newsmen.

The photographers and video journalists cover hostile environment or events really putting their lives at risk, he said.  The ousted fascist government did everything to stop the mouth of journalists to sustain its power, the press secretary said, accusing that a number of journalists even worked as the brokers of the ousted government.

He said the works of the interim government is to bring back the full freedom of speech and press, claiming that it will not stop an inch freedom of any one. Alam said the government did not intervene in any media owners and asked them not to sack anyone for reporting or withdraw any news item.