Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has emphasized the necessity of ensuring press freedom to protect democracy. “The press freedom must be ensured to defend democracy,” he stated in a message issued in observance of the Black Day for Newspaper.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tarique Rahman highlighted the significance of June 16, 1975, a date he referred to as a black day in Bangladesh’s history. On that day, the then-rulers abolished all political parties and instituted an authoritarian one-party system under BAKSAL, permitting only four government-aligned newspapers to operate, which he claimed left the nation silenced. This move, he said, led to widespread unemployment among journalists and disrupted their livelihoods and families’ futures.
Emphasizing the core aspirations of Bangladesh’s war of liberation, Tarique Rahman reiterated the goals of achieving geographical independence and establishing democracy. He stressed that traditional democracy ensures civic freedoms, with freedom of speech, thought, and expression being paramount. He argued that press freedom allows for dissent, holding the state and society accountable while reflecting citizens’ will in government formation.
Tarique Rahman accused past rulers of betraying the war of independence’s spirit by obstructing multi-party democracy and implementing a one-party parliamentary system. He credited Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman with reintroducing multi-party democracy and reinstating press freedom by abolishing undemocratic laws.
He criticized both Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his daughter, Sheikh Hasina, for allegedly following a one-party system ideology, oppressing journalists, and curtailing media freedom with old laws. Tarique Rahman contended that the enactment of laws like the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act severely restricted press freedom and expression, likening it to imprisonment in a formidable fortress.
In conclusion, Tarique Rahman reaffirmed his belief in press freedom as a cornerstone of multi-party democracy, asserting that it is essential for securing democracy’s stability and security.