Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls on Wednesday said the Digital Security Act (DSA) puts additional threat for journalists in Bangladesh.
She said the media plays a vital role to ensure democracy and transparency in a country.
“Media freedom is deteriorating all around the world including Bangladesh. Media also plays a key role to hear from different sections of the people and represents the voice of the unheard,” said the Canadian envoy while speaking at a dialogue on safety of women journalists.
Discussants also included Barrister Sara Hossain, President of Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendro Nasimun Ara Huq Minu and Coordinator of Women Journalists Network Bangladesh Angur Nahar Monty.
Faruq Faisel, Regional Director for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, moderated the dialogue session.
Rumky Farhana, Senior Program Officer of ARTICLE 19, presented the keynote paper pointing out the objectives and scope of these upcoming series of dialogues.
Journalists, civil society organisations, diplomats, academia, researchers and media actors attended the inaugural session.
The speakers at the dialogue sought a national action plan to ensure safety and well-being of women journalists as per the United Nations resolution on Women, Peace and Security.
The upcoming series of dialogues among women journalists of Bangladesh on “Making the invisible visible” will be held under a Global Project ‘Equally Safe: Towards a feminist agenda to the safety of journalists (FEMSOJ)’ with the funding of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in six countries in South America and South Asia.
The opening dialogue was organised by ARTICLE 19, South Asia at the Canadian Club.
Source: United News of Bangladesh