‘It is not appropriate to detain anyone without trial and deny bail for prolonged periods’

World Press Freedom Day is being observed today, with countries around the globe marking the occasion on 3 May each year. This year’s theme is “Shaping a Peaceful Future: Strengthening Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security”.

The day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, following a recommendation made at UNESCO’s 26th General Conference in 1991. Since then, media professionals worldwide have commemorated the day to highlight the importance of press freedom.

According to Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), a total of 496 journalists across the country faced harassment in the period following the July uprising. Of them, 266 were named as accused in cases related to killings or violence linked to the events. The organisation disclosed these figures on 4 August last year.

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Speaking to a media outlet on the occasion, Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, President of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Manab Zamin, raised concerns over due process. “If we speak of the rule of law, it is not appropriate to detain individuals without trial and deny bail for prolonged periods. The matter should be resolved,” he said, adding that NOAB had conveyed the issue to the Prime Minister and expressed hope for a prompt resolution.

Responding to queries regarding cases related to the July uprising, Police Headquarters spokesperson and Assistant Inspector General (Media and Public Relations) AHM Shahadat Hossain said that the agencies responsible for investigations are carefully reviewing each case. He noted that if no evidence is found against an individual, investigators are seeking their discharge, while charges are being filed against those found to be involved, in accordance with the law.