|
Dhaka, 07 May, (Asiantribune.com): "Some
Islamist extremists are advocating in favor of not establishing relations
with Israel, which is
the only democracy in the Middle East,"
said Advocate Samarendra Nath
Goswami. "But, in today’s world scenario, it
is important for Bangladesh to follow the examples of Pakistan, Indonesia,
Egypt, Turkey and many other Muslim nations who already have established
economic and diplomatic relations with Israel for the good of their own
country," he emphasized.
Commenting on rise of Islamist terrorism, Goswami
said,
Bangladesh
is already attacked by these elements. Now the entire society needs to
raise voice against the rise of Islamphobia in
moderate Bangladesh.
He said, some Islamist extremists are advocating in favor of not
establishing relations with Israel,
which is the only democracy in the Middle East.
But, in today’s world scenario, it is important for Bangladesh to follow
the examples of Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey and many other Muslim
nations who already have established economic and diplomatic relations with
Israel for the good of their own country.
Bangladesh Minority Lawyers Association organized a discussion meeting to
mark the World Pres Freedom Day on in
Dhaka.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of BMLA Advocate Cyril Sikder and was participated by Advocate Samarendra Nath Goswami, Alal Chowdhury, Sadequr Rahman Khan, Advocate Ali Ashraf,
Freedom Fighter Padma Rahman
and a number of socio-political figures in the city.
Advocate Samarendra Nath
Goswami in his speech said, repression on press
has reached an alarming level in
Bangladesh. State machinery is
engaged in taking various attempts to suppress the voice of journalists.
He said, a free press is the best guarantee of
protecting the individual citizens and their rights from tyrannies in any
form and in the exercise of democracy in every strata of society. This is
because a free press can expose corruption and other malpractice as an ally
in promoting economic development and good governance. Therefore, citizens'
forums and other bodies need to concert their activities and step up the
demand for full freedom of the press, if they are really interested in
promoting their own rights and are sincere about democracy being firmly
established in the country.
Sadequr Rahman Khan said,
to ensure a sustainable democracy, it is foremost duty for the government
to ensure freedom of press.
In his speech, Advocate Cyril Sikder said, the
occasion could not help but recall to some the horrific treatment of sports
journalists at Chittagong
recently. Sadly, some months ago, the media came under scathing attack by a
few prominent members of the ruling party in reporting events and
developments in what was actually a balanced manner but not what they
deemed to be in their favor.
Advocate Cyril Sikder added ,
of course, it is to be noted that this loss of temper has happened in
general with some members of the governments that we have had in our
country so far. Sometimes various disguised attempts at gagging the press
ensued, expressing hostile attitude. Hence it needs to be noted that
freedom of the press is indispensable for providing that unhampered
objective expression of news, views, etcetera; which is necessary for
pressuring a government to mend its ways, to become responsive or perform to
people's expectations. In the process, people's welfare and their
democratic interests are served.
Cyril Sikder further said, the latest disclosures
about the state of the freedom of the press in
Bangladesh
that was prepared as part of a bigger report on the human rights situation
in Bangladesh
by the US State Department, is disappointing to say the least. The report
gave a telling exposure of the attacks on the journalists. There have also
been quite a few cases where newspaper men were brutally assaulted by
elements of the underworld for reporting bravely on criminal activities.
Journalists have been murdered in
Khulna, Jessore
and other places for fearless reporting on crimes. False sedition charge is
lying with different courts in Bangladesh against a number of
senior journalists. All these proved to be great constraints in the working
of a free press in Bangladesh.
He termed the situation as shameful, saying, where a free press can not
exist, democracy will automatically collapse.
- Asian Tribune -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2006 www.asiantribune.com. All rights reserved. The
information contained in the Asian Tribune report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority
of The Asian Tribune.
|
