Bangladesh dips in press freedom index

Reporters Without Borders (RWB), in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index report, ranked Bangladesh 146th among 180 countries in terms of freedom of press. This is a two step drop from the country's ranking in 2016. RWB, an international organisation that promotes and defends press freedom, cited the growing hostility towards criticism and punitive measures against those who resist "censorship or self-censorship" in the report.

The report further reads: "There is real pluralism, but media self-censorship is growing as a result of the endemic violence against journalists and media outlets, and the systematic impunity enjoyed by those responsible." The blocking of websites, government criticism of the media, and lawsuits against journalists all contributed to the further decline of Bangladesh's ranking in the index.

In a country which is globally lauded for its progress in terms of economic, social and international goals, this is a sad state of affairs. We cannot expect to build a country based on democratic principles, no matter how great our other successes, when a fundamental right such as freedom of expression is not strongly upheld. A healthy democracy is one which tolerates dissent, allows for plurality of views, and is open to criticism – the traditional role of the media. We believe it is the media's job to speak the truth to whoever might be in power.

It is prescient that the RWB has noted that journalism worldwide is at a "tipping point" in an "age of post-truth, propaganda, and suppression of freedoms -- especially in democracies." We repeat, there can be no true democracy without a free press, and if we do not want a world where we have to rethink everything we say, we must stand up for this freedom. It is the core of democracy that is at stake.