|
 |
|
. |
| . |
|
|
| |
|
. |
| |
Special Protection Act for
Need Rights and Safety of
Journalists
Written by Mr. Ataur
Rahman
General Secretary
Bangladesh Journalists
rights' Forum-BJRF |
| |
|
|
Journalism is most risky and
responsible professions.
Though it is risky known to
all that the very much
enthusiastic new generation
to come and join this
profession. There are many
new Newspapers have been
publish last ten years and a
great manifestation of
electronic media.
A great modification
accomplished in the radio
television media. Now the
reporting system has become
changed and special report
delivered in the radio and
television. Those who have
recent passed from
university have a great
interest to join this
profession and they think it
is risky most risky
profession.
Journalists at a seminar,
terming journalism most
risky profession, urged the
government to formulate a
Special Protection Act to
ensure professional rights
and safety for journalists.
Which seminar organized
Bangladesh journalists
Rights Forum-BJRF at the
press institute of
Bangladesh-PIB on 25
October.
Political leader including
three members parliament of
various political party,
lawyers and most of the
leader of journalists
organizations those who are
directly attached in this
risky profession were
present in the seminar. They
also stressed the need for a
greater coalition in
journalists’ community,
particularly between
different organizations in
this connection.
Secretary General of BJRF
Ataur Rahman presented a
keynote paper at the program
and said:
“Unity is
Power. Power is Strength.
Union protects the rights of
journalists. No unison no
protection of rights. The
unity would bring
professional rights and
safety of journalists. The
state is the safeguard of a
person's security. But the
rights of journalists are
being violated every moment
in different parts of the
country. Rights and
privileges are well defined
in the Constitution of
Bangladesh. The Article 38
of Constitution of
Bangladesh says' Every
citizen shall have the right
to form associations or
unions, subject to any
reasonable restrictions
imposed by law in the
interest of morality or
public order. Article 39 of
the Constitution of
Bangladesh guarantees
freedom of expression, but a
guarantee clause in the
Constitution is not an
absolute guarantee. Article
39 says "freedom of
expression is guaranteed"
subject to "any reasonable
restriction imposed by the
law" of national security,
friendly relations with
foreign states, public
order, decency or morality,
or in relation to contempt
of court, defamation or
incitement to an offence.
The situation of journalists
trade union movement, which
started its journey in the
area called Bangladesh now
in around 1876, has a long
history of struggle -
playing a significant role
to protect Journalists'
rights and their fight
against colonial oppression
both during British and
Pakistani regimes. It has
participated in all the
democratic movements
including the war of
liberation. The first
journalist union activities
were started in 1951-52 in
East Pakistan. A total of
6500 Journalists out of 2500
were full time workers in
different newspapers and
news agencies in Bangladesh.
A total of 1800 journalists'
were united by the various
journalists’ organizations.
A total of 23 journalists
organizations have been
working in Bangladesh .In
1999, BJRF was established
as a non-partisan,
non-profit organization to
promote Journalists and
press freedom in
Bangladesh.”
Mass Media and Laws:
According to the Ministry of
Information, a total of 2175
Newspapers have been
publishing including 306
national and regional
dailies are being published
in the country. Three news
agencies including
stateowned national news
agencies Bangladesh Sangbad
Sangtha – BSS are there.
Bangladesh also has two
television station-one
public and one private
besides –several cable and
satellite television
stations, and two radio
stations. The private TV
station Ekushhey television
(ETV) was closed down on
August on 29 this year
following the verdict of the
Supreme Court. The media in
Bangladesh face more than 21
restrictive laws, which go
against freedom of
expression. These laws
affected the media,
including news agencies,
radio, television, theatre,
audio-video materials, VCR
rental and video copying,
cinema, advertising,
telecommunication etc. The
consecutive heads of the
government have echoed
sentiments promoting freedom
of the press but still
Bangladesh has not signed
and ratified the
International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights.
The Covenant, enforced since
23 March 1976 as an
international treaty, is
important to guarantee
freedom of expression.
Traditionally Bangladeshi
media face the challenges of
censorship in many ways.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi
people are still looking for
the media to play a
responsible role in
institutionalizing
democracy. The Official
Secrecy Act, 1980 gives
government the right to
prevent access to official
information. Journalists are
constantly complaining about
the fact that the police are
indiscriminately applying
this law in Bangladesh. Wage
Board Award and emoluments
of Media The 5th wage Board
Award for journalists was
effective since October
1997in Bangladesh. But most
of the press is not
implement the 5th wage Board
Award. The state owned news
agencies Bangladesh Sangbad
Sangstha –BSS and three or
four newspapers have partly
implemented 5th wage Board
Award . The press lord
Association filed a writ in
the Supreme Court against
the 5th wage board Award.
Most of the journalists are
not getting their monthly
emoluments timely. The press
lord of Bangladesh has been
enjoying all facilities from
the government including
high rate of government
advertisement. But they are
not paying salaries and
others benefits in time.
News papers Employees
(Condition and Services) Act
1974 have not followed
Bangladeshi press code. All
press lord of Bangladesh
have been getting 100%
facilities from the
government. But journalists
have not getting 50% from
press owners. The Government
was no effective policy and
action about the
Implementation of the
newspapers Employees
(Condition and Services) Act
1974. The Government and the
Press lord are responsible
for dividing journalists and
organizations .The BJRF
would hope all journalists
and organizations make to
realize their demands
greater unity. Journalists
Killed and Repression. The
International federations of
journalist’s sources said a
total of 57 journalists
including three Bangladeshis
have been killed in the
world till October 23 of
this year. They are as
follows :Uganda 1, Mexico 2,
Colombia 13, Brazil 3,
Morocco 1,Ukraine 1,
Pakistan 2, Bangladesh 3,
Russia 9 (including 1 in
Chechnya),Rwanda 1,
Palestine 4 , Algeria 2,
Philippines 3, Bolivia
1,Venezuela 1, India 2 ,
Georgia 1, Nepal 2, Angola
1, Guatemala 1, Burundi 1
Malawi 1, Afghanistan 1, In
Bangladesh three Journalists
were killed and at least 130
Journalists were attacked
and 55 others targeted with
death threats , A total of
160 journalists were
terminated and harassed by
different news papers and
news agencies . A total of
54 Journalist terminated
from state owned national
news agency Bangladesh
Sangbad Sangstha – BSS and
various press clubs were
brutally attacked in 2002
around the country. Everyday
journalists are issued
threats by the terrorists
and miscreants. Journalists
investigating issues like
corruption, organized crime,
political and religious
violence or massacres
carried out by the Pakistani
army and its Bangladeshi
allies during the 1971 War
of Independence, take
enormous risks. Groups of
young activists, gangs of
thugs, corrupt elements do
not hesitate to attack
journalists who disturb
them.
Three journalists killed
in 2002
Three journalists were
killed in 2002 Journalists
are Mr. Harun Rashed a
journalist of regional daily
the Purbanchal was Killed on
march 2, 2002 at south
western district Khulna . He
was 44 years old. Mr Shukur
Hossain a journalists of
regional daily the Anirbun
was killed on July 5, 2002
at the same district. He was
40 years old. Journalist
Syed Faroque was murdered in
2002. He was an editor of
weekly the Pubali Barta in
Syhelt .Meanwhile eight
Journalists have been killed
in south western parts of
Bangladesh.
Two Journalists Killed in
2001
Two Journalists were killed
in 2001. On 23 April 2001,
Nahar Ali, correspondent of
a local Bengali-language
Newspaper the Dainik Anirban
in Khulna died of his wounds
at the town's hospital.
According to police and his
family, Ali was kidnapped on
18 April in his village of
Dumuria, a few kilometres
from Khulna. He was found
unconscious two days later,
near his village, after
being seriously beaten and
tortured by his kidnappers.
According to the doctors, he
died of brain damage and
severe bleeding, and
His attackers broke his legs
and arms. They appeared
before a magistrate and were
then detained in the Khulna
police station. Another
journalist was murdered in
2001. But, as of 1 January
2002, it is impossible to
say whether this murder was
related to the victim's
activities as a reporter. On
July 22, policemen found the
mutilated body of Ahsan Ali,
48 years old and father of
six children, correspondent
with the Dainik Jugantor .
Five journalists arrested
2001
Five journalists were
arrested 2001. On 26
February 2001, Lytton
Chakravorty, correspondent
with Bhorer Kagoj, in
Rajbari (west of Dhaka), was
arrested following a
"slander" complaint for his
articles on
Irregularities and
corruption in the management
of Sadar hospital in Rajbari.
Chakravorty was beaten,
splashed with boiling water
and forced to sleep in a
four-foot wide room. Lytton
Chakravorty was finally
released on August.
On 9 March, police arrested
Panthanibas Barua,
correspondent with the daily
Purbokone in Rangunia (south
of the country), who was
accused of publishing
articles on corruption among
the local police. Some
people said that police
officers framed three
correspondents in Rangunia.
Barua was released on bail
one month after his arrest.
On 16 June, Shamsul Alam
Litton, journalist with
Dainik Al Amin, in
Narayanganj , was arrested
and charged with
participating in a bombing
during a rally of the Awami
League.On August 6, police
arrested the free-lance
journalist and writer Mahmud
Musa in Raninagar, following
charges filed against him
for "possession of banned
publications". Police
officers searched his house
and seized several books,
copies of the weekly Jai Jai
Din, newsletters on human
rights, and other magazines.
On 22 November, Shahriar
Kabir, a free-lance
journalist and documentary
filmmaker, was arrested at
the Dhaka International
Airport when he arrived from
Kolkata. On 23 November, a
court ordered that Shahriar
Kabir be held in accordance
with the Special Powers Act
of 1974. Main reason for
repression of journalists.
The disunity among of
journalists and journalists
organizations has been
continuing to the harm of
the country and the
community have main reason
for repression of
journalists .This disunity
is responsible for
oppression of journalists
who can not raise united
voice . This situation must
be changed for the wealthy
growth by journalists and
healthy growth of democratic
society. Journalists will be
fighting for their rights
and this call for total
unity of the journalists’
community. Most of the press
lord of Bangladesh have been
publishing news papers to
protect their businesses and
others interest. It is time
for journalists to get
united to realize their
demands and work for
realization of their
democratic rights as well
the rights of the people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|