In its latest study titled ‘Getting Away with Murder’ published on Tuesday, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) states that impunity for the murder of journalists is still overwhelmingly the norm in more than a dozen countries, including Bangladesh. The study placed Bangladesh, with 10 unsolved murders at 10th spot on a list of 13 worst offenders.
Bangladesh has catalogued cases involving abuses and episodes of violence against journalists in the recent decades. In most of the cases, the reporters who were killed and murdered haven’t been found, that is to say a culture of impunity seems to have prevailed. We may not have a high number of killings of journalists, but in terms of threat and physical assault, no doubt we remain in a state of concern. As no significant progress has been observed in any of these cases, the prevailing situation gives the perpetrators a green signal to carry on the crime.
Journalists are those who keep
the truth alive even
in the face of danger
Journalism is a noble profession with intent to serve the people, endeavouring towards letting the people know the fact. Journalists are those who keep the truth alive even in the face of danger. But in order to expose the truth and sift fact from the fiction, journalists face many difficulties in the form of threats and manipulation by various unscrupulous wings of power.
Over the last years, the ground and impact of journalism, with the innovation and intervention of technology, has expanded at a rapid pace. Consequently manipulation over the journalists is pushing them towards suppression, sometimes ideologically, sometimes morally. And those newsmen who try to be vocal about the truth are often seen being harassed and even murdered. Thus journalism is increasingly becoming a risky profession and eventually journalists tend to refrain from reporting on sensitive issues.
We condemn all attacks and violence against journalists and media workers. We urge the government to prevent violence against them, ensure accountability, bring to justice the perpetrators and ensure victims have access to appropriate legal help. A safe and enabling environment for journalists should be created to allow them to work independently and without fear or unjustified interference.
