Turning the heat on the press

One wonders why the situation has come to such a pass? Is it the manifestation of the party attitude towards the press? An attitude that causes it to identify the press as holding a natural animus towards the party; a feeling that was unfortunately articulated at a recent BNP anniversary meeting, by some of its high-ups and which was received with applause by the party members present. We cannot help but think that the situation has been precipitated by the constant volley of harsh comments of some very senior members of the BNP, against the press.

The BNP attitude, we are sorry and surprised to note, is in stark contrast to its occasional claims about the free press in Bangladesh. The current BNP mindset, unfortunately, goes against the very principle of free press and the unfettered right of discharge of journalistic duties.

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Objective reports in the press, if taken in the right spirit, would benefit the government and consequently the state, rather than the opposite, as some in the BNP are given to think. However one should not overlook the fact that there is always the Press Council as recourse by those that may feel aggrieved by any press report.

We ought to bear in mind that it is the party in power that is subject to constant public scrutiny, including that of the press, since it's they that are running the show. But nobody can blame the press for being less than objective or biased in its treatment of issues.

Of the few things that we can be rightly proud of internationally, one is the function and objectivity of the press and the media in general in Bangladesh. It is for the BNP to shed its biased view of the press and refrain from campaign of press vilification.