Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the freedom of press has been guaranteed in Bangladesh along with the freedom of thought and conscience as per article 39 of the Constitution.
“However, taking advantage of press freedom, a section of media is trying to create confusion among the people by publishing incorrect information,” she told the Parliament during a question-answer session. The prime minister said the press freedom is subject to certain restrictions including national security, friendship with foreign countries, public discipline, contempt of court on ground of decency and morality and defamation.
“None of us is above the law,” the prime minister said in response to a question from treasury bench lawmaker Tajul Islam (Comilla-9) adding that if someone gets involved in illegal activities, that person must face justice as per the law of the land.
Sheikh Hasina further said that if anybody feels aggrieved by any news item, he or she can seek redress under the existing civil and criminal laws of the country besides Bangladesh Press Council Act, 1974.
The prime minister said her government believes in the freedom of media as per the relevant Constitutional provisions of the country and that’s why it has taken various measures in this regard.
“Free flow of information is an essential condition for press freedom,” she said adding that that’s why the present government soon after taking over promulgated the Right of Access to Information Act, 2009 and set up the Information Commission.
-With The Independent input
