Round Table B:

Safety for Community, Regional and Local

Media

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BRChief Executive Officer

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC)

www.bnnrc.net

Media freedom in Bangladesh

Media infrastructure :- Media plurality: electronic media- Media plurality: print media

Legal impediments faced by Journalists:- Journalists arrested - Journalists sued Environment for media performance - Journalists Killed - Journalists threatened- Journalists attacked - Journalists injured- Journalists assaulted

Frequency of different types of attacks against Journalists- Killing - Serious bodily injury - Minor Assaults Threat/Intimidation- Arrest/Police Remand - Abduction - Contempt of Court Defamation Case (Criminal) - Destruction of equipment- Gender based attacks

Frequency of different types of attacks

• Torture/Harassment/Threat• Death Threat • Terrorist and unanimous by phone• Case file against published news • Torture by Terrorist/attack/threat/harassment/bomb

thrown • Attack/Torture/ Harassment by Political parties

Journalism in Bangladesh Safety & Security : Challenges

- Owners of Media houses are centered to their own vested interest ( Multi Business Houses)

- Journalist are biased by self-censorship

- Journalist Association/Union link with Political Party

- Lack of Media literacy increases risk for Journalist - Lack of awareness Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA)

Community Journalism in Bangladesh Safety & Security : Challenges- Mainstream journalism yet

not Acknowledge Community Journalism

- Community Journalist are not united

- Community Journalist are biased by self-censorship

- Lack of Media literacy increases risk for Community Journalist

- Incidents of assault of Community Journalist are open hard to differentiate whether these are personal or professional

- Community Journalist do not have any coverage in line with physical and professional

- Rural media outlets are not profitable concerns

- Lack of any curriculum / course for promoting Community Journalism

- Community Journalist are not include in wage board declare by Govt.

Government Response:The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees the freedom of speech and expression under Article 39. - There is no scope for impunity for the charge of

such killings/attacked - Meanwhile police have arrested a number of

suspects in the killings - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the

attacks. - High-ranking police officials are saying that the

killers of the journalist will be brought under the law.

Considering following steps:• Condemn all acts of violence against journalists and bloggers, and

commit to hold accountable those who are responsible for the attacks.• Take reasonable steps to protect communicators when they know, of

a real and immediate risk to the life of an identified individual.• Take all necessary steps towards prompt, effective and transparent

investigation to ensure the perpetrators, and organisers, of all crimes against journalists

• Establish a specific mechanism to provide protection and to investigate attacks on freedom of expression, overseen by an independent body.

UNESCO:• Strengthen Media Literacy at Country level • Assessing Media Development Indicators(MDI)• Media Viability Indicators