Amnesty: Bangladesh media faces more restrictions now than ever.

[Banglar Bir]

Amnesty: Bangladesh media faces more restrictions now than ever

• Tribune Desk
• Published at 04:20 PM May 02, 2017
• Last updated at 08:11 PM May 02, 2017

A number of editors and journalists have been accused in criminal cases and cases under the ICT Act in recent years Bigstock
The government treats journalism as if it were a crime, says Amnesty’s Bangladesh researcher Olof Blomqvist
The government has stifled freedom of expression and its various attempts to silence critical coverage has resulted in more restrictions on the media in recent years, the Amnesty International claims in a new report.

Most media workers, interviewed by Amnesty, said media freedom was at its worst since Bangladesh returned to democracy in 1991, although the government insists that there was “enough freedom” for journalism in Bangladesh.

In a statement, Amnesty claimed that Bangladesh had frequently invoked “archaic, colonial-era criminal defamation and sedition laws against critical journalists.”

After the Awami League retained office in 2014, the authorities have used “criminal charges and other tactics to harass and interfere in the work of media outlets in an effort to silence critical reporting”, the report – Caught between fear and repression: Attacks on freedom of expression in Bangladesh – alleged.

It claimed that the government had made use of a “repressive legal framework” containing “a number of laws that stifle the right to freedom of expression”. While some of these laws date back to the colonial-era, others have been introduced more recently.

The fear of being charged, imprisoned or falling victim to physical violence has led to extensive self-censorship, the report noted.

A journalist, who was not named, told Amnesty that there was indirect pressure on media not owned by ruling Awami League supporters to not to cross the line.

Read Amnestys full report at:
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/law-rights/2017/05/02/amnesty-bangladesh-media-restrictions/

 

[Nilgiri]

Amnesty should also investigate the BBS, its out of their purview/focus area, but no doubt they would find much more juicy dissonance/corruption.

 

[Banglar Bir]

12:00 AM, May 03, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:14 AM, May 03, 2017
Dissenting voices being stifled

Says Amnesty Int'l

The Bangladesh government has not only failed to protect dissenting voices or hold accountable the armed groups that threaten them, it has also stifled freedom of expression through a slew of repressive tactics and new laws, said an Amnesty International report yesterday.

The report styled “Caught between fear and repression: Attacks on freedom of expression in Bangladesh” documents how armed groups have thrived in a climate of impunity, carrying out high-profile spate of killings of secular bloggers with few consequences.

The UK-based rights organisation released the report in London.

Also launched through a press conference at the National Press Club, New Delhi, the report said only a single case has resulted in convictions in four years.

“Since the Awami League government was re-elected in 2014, only one case resulted in convictions -- eight alleged members of Ansar al-Islam were found guilty in December 2015 for their role in an attack.”


The report said some activists have received death threats, forcing some of them to leave the country for their own safety, while the authorities have refused to offer them protection.

Over the last year, the Bangladeshi government has also intensified its crackdown on public debate and criticism, harassing media workers, interfering with their work, and bringing criminal charges against them under draconian laws, it read.

REGIONAL NATURE OF THREATS
Asked why Amnesty chose New Delhi instead of Dhaka to hold the press conference, its Bangladesh researcher Olof Blomqvist wrote to The Daily Star through e-mail, "We decided to launch this report in Delhi with the help of Amnesty International India because we wanted to highlight the regional nature of threats to freedom of expression."

“We have documented many of the same issues and restrictions on countries like India, Pakistan and Maldives. We have also organised a press conference in London for the Bangladeshi correspondents based there."

About the report, Olof Blomqvist said, "Between the violence of armed groups and state repression of the state, secular voices in Bangladesh are being consistently silenced. Not only is the government failing to protect people's freedom of expression, it has been blaming them for the threats they face and criminalising the work of bloggers and journalists through a slew of repressive laws."

The researcher added, “The crackdown on dissent and secular thought in Bangladesh must end. The very first steps must include providing protection to those who are threatened for raising their voices, and to repeal or reform the draconian laws that are used to punish anyone voicing inconvenient opinions.”

BLAMING THE VICTIMS
Mentioning the killing of online activist Nazimuddin Samad in April 2016, the report said the government sought to blame the tragedy on him.

It also mentioned that Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said the police would scrutinise Samad's writings for “objectionable” content.

“In several other cases, activists told Amnesty International the police refused to register their complaints about threats they received. In other instances, the police suggested the victims should leave the country, or even began harassing them for writing on 'secular topics'.”

One secular blogger, who received more than a dozen death threats by phone and on social media, told the London-based organisation: “I made several attempts to get some help, but [to] my face they refused to help me.”

Speaking to Amnesty, journalists described the repression as the worst they've endured since Bangladesh returned to civilian rule in 1991. There are now “red lines” that journalists are careful not to cross. Few dare publish reports that may be deemed critical of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“This has brought a climate of fear in Bangladesh's once-vibrant civil society, who now resorts to self-censorship.”

'DRACONIAN LAW'
The report said the 2006 Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Act, which carries a minimum sentence of seven years, is seen as the principal instrument to muzzle critical voices in the country.

Its vaguely worded clauses empower the authorities to prosecute people “in the interest of sovereignty, integrity or security of Bangladesh” or if they are deemed to “prejudice the image of the State” or “hurt religious belief”, it read.

The report said the government has used the “draconian law” to silence criticism in the media by bringing criminal charges against journalists for simply doing their work.

“In December 2016, Nazmul Huda, a print and television journalist, was arrested, viciously beaten in custody and then charged under the ICT Act for covering protests by garment workers outside Dhaka.”

The report said in 2013, the government also used the ICT Act to bring criminal charges against four secular bloggers for allegedly “hurting religious sentiments”.

“Since 2013, several high-profile journalists and editors have been subjected to politically-motivated criminal charges. Most of them have been associated with media outlets that are critical of the government or supportive of the political opposition.”

The report said that one journalist told Amnesty International: “The government has picked a few individuals to make examples out of. This has been to instil fear in other media, to show what happens when you cross the line.”

In one instance, Awami League supporters filed a flurry of 83 politically motivated cases against Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, it mentioned.

It also said Shafik Rehman, an elderly opposition supporter and the editor of the weekly Mouchake Dhil magazine, was held in solitary confinement for over three weeks on a trumped-up charge of “conspiring to abduct and assassinate” ruling party politician Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

“Bangladesh's authorities have frequently invoked archaic, colonial-era criminal defamation and sedition laws against critical journalists.”

It said the authorities are also now proposing new laws, such as a Digital Security Act and Liberation War Denial Crimes Act. If enacted, these laws would impose further restrictions on freedom of expression by creating new criminal offences, sometimes using national security as a cover.

http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/dissenting-voices-being-stifled-1399615

 

[Banglar Bir]

আফগানিস্তানের চেয়েও পেছনে রয়েছে বাংলাদেশের গণমাধ্যমের স্বাধীনতা : টিআইবি
Bangladesh is lagging behind Afghanistan on FREEDOM OF PRESS. Transparency International Bangladesh (TlB).

02 May, 2017

গণমাধ্যমের স্বাধীনতা নিয়ে টিআইবি বলছে, আফগানিস্তানের চেয়েও পেছনে রয়েছে বাংলাদেশের গণমাধ্যমের স্বাধীনতা। সরকার তা স্বীকার করে না। গণমাধ্যমের বিভিন্ন প্রতিষ্ঠানে সুশাসনের ঘাটতি রয়েছে। নিয়োগে স্বচ্ছতার অভাব রয়েছে। কর্মীদের পাওনা পরিশোধে অনিহা, কর্মীদের অধিকার সংরক্ষিত না, ক্ষেত্র বিশেষে বস্তুনিষ্ঠ সংবাদ ও সক্ষমতার অভাব রয়েছে। আর বক্তারা বলেন, রাজনৈতিক বিভাজনের কারণে বাংলাদেশে সাংবাদিকদের ঐক্য বিনষ্ট হয়েছে। সুস্থ পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি হয়নি। সুবিধা নেয়ার কারণে এই বিভাজন আরো প্রকট হচ্ছে। দরকার পেশাজীবী সংগঠন।

আজ মঙ্গলবার ধানমন্ডিস্থ ট্রান্সপারেসি ইন্টারন্যাশনাল বাংলাদেশের কার্যালয়ে আয়োজিত এসডিজি-১৬ ও সুশাসন, সরকার গণমাধ্যম ও জনগণ শীর্ষক আলোচনায় সাবেক সিইসি একথা বলেন। প্রবন্ধ উপস্থাপন করেন। টিআইবি পরিচালক রিজওয়ান উল আলম। টিআইবির ট্রাষ্ট্রি ও সাবেক চেয়ারম্যান ড. এটিএম শামসুল হুদার সভাপতিত্বে অনুষ্ঠানে বক্তব্য রাখেন আবছান চৌধুরী, মুহাম্মদ জাহাঙ্গীর, জ.ই মামুন।
গবেষণা প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে, উল্লেখযোগ্য সংখ্যক সাংবাদিক নৈতিক মানদণ্ড অনুরণ করে না। বাংলাদেশের গণমাধ্যম সর্বদা জনস্বার্থে পরিচালিত হয় নাকি বাণিজ্যিক স্বার্থ রক্ষা করে সে বিতর্ক এখন জনমনে প্রবল হয়ে উঠেছে। কিছু ব্যতিক্রম ছাড়া সার্বিকভাবে গণমাধ্যমেরর মানের অবনতি হয়েছে। গণমাধ্যমেরর স্বাধীনতা শুধুমাত্র সাংবাদিকের প্রতিবেদন লেখা বা মন্তব্য করার স্বাধীনতা নয়।

প্রতিবেদন বলছে, আফগানিস্তানের চেয়েও পেছনে রয়েছে বাংলাদেশের গণমাধ্যমের স্বাধীনতা। সরকার তা স্বিকার করে না। গণমাধ্যমের বিভিন্ন প্রতিষ্ঠানে সুশাসনের ঘাটতি রয়েছে। নিয়োগে স্বচ্ছতার অভাব রয়েছে। কর্মীদের পাওনা পরিশোধে অনিহা, কর্মীদের অধিকার সংরক্ষিত নয়, ক্ষেত্র বিশেষে বস্তুনিষ্ঠ সংবাদ ও সক্ষমতার অভাব রয়েছে।

আবছান চৌধুরী বলেন, সাংবাদিকদের একতা হবে না। পুঁজির চরিত্রে যেমন হেফাজত ও আওয়ামী লীগ একত্রিত হয়েছে, ঠিক তেমন হবে না।
ড. ইফতেখারুজ্জামান বলেন, বাংলাদেশে এখন নির্ভীক সাংবাদিকতা করা কঠিন।

মুহাম্মদ জাহাঙ্গীর বলেন, প্রেস কাউন্সিলের আইনের মাঝে অনেক দুর্বলতা রয়েছে। এসব সংশোধনে কারো কোনো উদ্যোগ নেই। তিনি বলেন, রাজনৈতিক বিভাজনের কারণে বাংলাদেশে সাংবাদিকদের ঐক্য বিনষ্ট হয়েছে। সুস্থ পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি হয়নি। সুবিধা নেয়ার কারণে এই বিভাজন আরো প্রকট হচ্ছে। তিনি বলেন, মানিক মিয়াদের মতন নির্ভক সাংবাদিকতা এখন সম্ভব না। আগে জেল বরন করতে হতো। এখন গুম করা হচ্ছে।

জ.ই মামুন বলেন, গণমাধ্যমে এখনো সীমাবদ্ধতা রয়েছে এটা ঠিক। আমাদেরকে সরকারি ও রাজনৈতিক সীমাবদ্ধতারর মধ্যে থেকেই সঠিক সাংবাদিকতা করতে হবে। অনেকে করেও যাচ্ছে।
ড. শামসুল হুদা বলেন, বাংলাদেশে পেশাদারিত্ব গড়ে ওঠেনি। কারণ তারা রাজনীতির উর্ধ্বে উঠতে পারছে না। সরকারকে উপেক্ষা করার কোনো কারণ নেই। সরকার থাকবেই। সরকারকে কার্যকর করতে কাঠামো সঠিক করতে হবে। প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো আজও দুর্বল রয়েছে।

উৎসঃ নয়া দিগন্ত

 

[SajjLad]

Amnesty should also investigate the BBS, its out of their purview/focus area, but no doubt they would find much more juicy dissonance/corruption.

I honestly wouldn't mind this, the Bangladeshi public deserve to know the full truth.

 

[Banglar Bir]

Law minister puts chief justice remarks to rest

• Asif Showkat Kallol
• Published at 04:28 PM May 03, 2017

Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq with US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat on 3 May, 2017 Dhaka Tribune
The minister on Wednesday was meeting with US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat at his Secretariat office
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq said he will speak to the chief justice over their respective remarks.

Earlier in March, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said the prime minister was being misled about the judiciary. He went on to comment on the government and the state of the parliament.

Minister Anisul Huq had later responded to the chief justice’s remarks by saying “the chief justices of other countries do not comment on political affairs.”

Also Read- Law minister: Section 57 will be dropped from ICT act

On Wednesday, Minister Anisul said the matter was between him and the chief justice. He went on to say that they will sit down and talk things out to resolve any issues over it.

The minister on Wednesday was meeting with US Ambassador Marcia Bernicat at his Secretariat office in the afternoon.

The law minister also reiterated that section 57 of the ICT act will be repealed and a new Digital Security Act will be introduced.

Law minister: Section 57 will be dropped from ICT act

• Tribune Desk
• Published at 11:32 PM May 02, 2017
• Last updated at 12:06 AM May 03, 2017

'The new Digital Security Act will clarify what section 57 is supposed to represent'
Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Anisul Huq said Section 57 of the ICT act will be scrapped.

The law minister said at an award ceremony on Tuesday that a new digital security law was in the works.

He said: “The new Digital Security Act will clarify what section 57 is supposed to represent. It will for once and for all prove that our government has no intentions to clamp down on freedom of speech.

“The law ministry is working on vetting the new Digital Security Act draft. We will collaborate with several state ministers to work on a revised draft to introduce it as a bill.”

The minister was speaking at the Bazlur Rahman Bhaiya Memorial Award Ceremony on the 65th anniversary of “Khelaghor” – a children’s organisation – at Bangladesh Shilpokola Academy.

Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act stipulates that any post, image, or video on an electronic format that “causes to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the state or person or hurt religious beliefs” are non-bailable offences. The punishment is a minimum seven years in prison up to a maximum of 14 years. The fines can go up to Tk1 crore.

Numerous journalists and students and teachers have been imprisoned under Section 57 of the ICT act, which led to numerous civic leaders and journalists to speak out against it. The act has been called draconian in its implementation and criticised for how it can be interpreted by law enforcement agencies.

Despite numerous protests and appeals, ministers and government officials have defended it.

The law was introduced in 2006 by the BNP government and established in 2013 by Awami League.

 

[Russell]

Good...

uneducated population + fake journalists + fake news = disaster.

If I was in control - I would ban the shitty talkshows and also restrict non dedicated news channels to - 4 hours of news a day and no news scroll at the bottom of the screen.

Currently:

Breaking News: Russell hates jamaati dogs
Breaking News: It's hot in summer
Breaking News: Terrorists have kidnapped 10 people at a shopping mall

Only one of these is truly breaking news and of any significance and consequence...yet, the media in this country, give all 3 equal importance and legitimacy.

 

[bdslph]

media bd are not as good as ppl says they also have fault and media is different in bd also
now the government is like that any government who comes to power will screw you up
well BAL is very powerful and strong so many media is now making soft voice or is going easy ways

 

[Skies]

True. People fear to express openly here.

In facebook people have stopped talking anything that might looks like criticizing this illegal Awami League govt. They might even be killed for telling the truth.

 

[Banglar Bir]

 

[Banglar Bir]