US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Tuesday highlighted five principles including protection of journalists from harassment and violence, noting that journalists play an even more important role in elections.
"I very much hope that these five principles are upheld throughout the election season and beyond," he said while addressing an event at EMK Centre commemorating the World Press Freedom Day 2022.
"We all have an obligation to protect the free press and to allow journalists to seek and report the truth without fear, harassment, or censorship," Ambassador Haas said, adding that a free press is a key ingredient in a legitimate, free democracy.
He said the United States’ policy on the Bangladeshi elections – or anywhere for that matter – is that the people of the country should have the ability to choose their own government through free and fair elections conducted in accordance with international standards.
Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, US Jefferson Media Fellow and former President of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), delivered the keynote speech.
Matiur Rahman, Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Lilly Nicholls and British Deputy High Commissioner Javed Patel also spoke at the discussion.
Terming journalism a noble profession, Ambassador Haas said increasingly, around the world, it is a difficult and dangerous one.
