Nine countries, including the United States, have expressed their concern over the government’s recent decision to cancel the declaration of the Dainik Dinkal.
A free press and free speech play a key role in a transparent democracy, Media Freedom Coalition in Bangladesh said in a statement on Friday.
The members of the Coalition are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.
The Media Freedom Initiative (MFC) is a cross-regional partnership of countries working together to advocate for media freedom, and for the safety of journalists and media workers, while holding them accountable who harm journalists and restrict them from doing their jobs.Established at the Global Conference for Media Freedom in July 2019, the MFC now has over 50 member states from six continents.
Nine foreign missions in Bangladesh on February 9 launched the Diplomatic Network Initiative aimed at supporting media freedom in Bangladesh.
Earlier on February 22, United Nations also expressed its concern about the shrinking space of some media outlets in Bangladesh.
In regular briefing held at the UN headquarters, UN correspondent M Mushfiqul Fazal asked “It is Bangladesh who fought for mother language in 1952 and we achieved that, and that's why it's the International Mother Language Day. And thank you, UN, and thank you, Stéphane. You are addressing these issues rightly. But ahead of the International Mother Language Day still we are struggling for rights. Ahead of Mother Language Day, Bangladesh Government forces main opposition newspaper, Bengali newspaper shutdown, the Dainik Dinkal, and according to AFP report it employs hundreds of journalists and press workers and covers new stories that the mainstream newspapers, most of which are controlled by pro-government, businesspeople rarely do. So what is your comment on that as the Bangladesh Government is shutting down newspapers, news outlets, one after another?”
In response, Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said, “Well, we've already expressed our concern about the shrinking space that we're seeing for some media outlets in Bangladesh, and we continue to express that same position.”
