The use of the Digital Security Act (DSA) to target journalists in Bangladesh is deeply concerning and goes against the principles of free journalism and freedom of expression. A free and independent press is essential for any democratic society, and journalists must be allowed to report on issues of public interest without fear of retaliation... Continue Reading →
Despite the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh witnessed magical growth in per capita income, which rose from $2,591 in 2020-21 to $2,824 in 2021-22. She also outshined India in 2020 in terms of GDP per capita in the current $1961.6. While the country did exceptionally well in these indicators, it performed very poorly in... Continue Reading →
There is ample evidence to suggest that instead of being a supporter of press freedom, governments in democracies have adopted direct and indirect controlling measures forcing the media to give them favourable treatment. The media is often considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy—while the other three pillars are the legislature, executive and judiciary.... Continue Reading →
What a Mexican film teaches us about governance La Dictadura Perfecta is a Mexican movie released in 2014. In English, it means The Perfect Dictatorship. The movie is about a nexus of corruption between the government, bureaucracy, and the media that savagely criticized the government of Enrique Pena Nieto, who served as the president of... Continue Reading →
As elsewhere in the world, the news media is also struggling to survive in Bangladesh. But the scenario is somewhat different from that of the developed democracies. In the developed democracies the news media enjoys absolute freedom and almost no interference from the government. It also enjoys constitutional and legal protection (First Amendment in the... Continue Reading →
How the DSA poses a threat to press freedom Bangladesh is now a development model for the rest of the world. The country has done so well the US president is now being advised to learn from Bangladesh -- a country that rose from a war-ravaged country in 1971 to one of the fastest-growing world... Continue Reading →
No one will oppose the fact that the press, whether it is in print or online or on the television, should be governed by a competent and independent authority backed by policies and laws. In a democracy, such institutions, laws, and policies tend to protect the freedom of the press so that it works as... Continue Reading →
When I first met Mizan in Dhaka, he was wearing an elbow crutch to help him walk, accompanied by his elderly father. Mizan had suffered custodial torture at a local police station at Bauphal in Patuakhali. The son-father duo came to Dhaka to file a writ petition seeking proper investigation in a case filed by... Continue Reading →
Understanding the Digital Security Act Bidyanondo Foundation has become quite a household name in recent days. Their dedicated service to humanity in these difficult times of Covid-19 has brought them under the limelight. But the organisation and its founding chairman have also become the target of vicious hate crime and racist attacks in social media.... Continue Reading →
From its epicentre in China's Wuhan, the deadly novel coronavirus has spread across the globe at tremendous speed, taking a heavy toll on human life. The virus has now been confirmed as deadlier than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic that first originated in China, and shook 25 other countries in North America, South America,... Continue Reading →
মুক্তচিন্তা (muktochinta) 