BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman has said that press freedom must be ensured to keep democracy safe and strong.
He made the statement on the occasion of the "Black Day of the Press" on Monday.
He said: "I firmly believe that freedom of the press is a fundamental element of multi-party democracy. To ensure the safety and sustainability of democracy, freedom of the press must be guaranteed."
In a statement sent just before midnight on Saturday, he said: "June 16, 1975, is a black day in the history of Bangladesh. On this day, the then ruling regime abolished all political parties and established an extreme authoritarian one-party Baksal system, leaving only four government-aligned newspapers and silencing an entire nation. As a result, countless journalists lost their jobs, pushing their livelihoods and their children's futures into deep uncertainty."
He said: "The spirit of our Liberation War was based on achieving geographical independence and establishing democracy in Bangladesh. In a classical democracy, citizens' civil liberties are ensured, and at its core lies freedom of speech, thought, and expression. The opportunity to express dissent through a free press brings both state and society under accountability and reflects the citizens' will in forming a government."
The BNP's acting chairperson said: "Those in power after independence betrayed the core values of the Liberation War, shutting down the journey of multi-party democracy and instituting the one-party Baksal regime.
Later, Ziaur Rahman reinstated the long-desired multi-party democracy. He abolished all undemocratic black laws of the Baksal regime and re-established press freedom."
Tarique Rahman noted: "Snatching away press freedom is essentially imprisoning thought and conscience. Like Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his daughter Sheikh Hasina also followed the same path by reintroducing their ideological one-party system in a new form. Through the introduction of various repressive laws, they continued to oppress journalists and the press."
In the message signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, it was stated: "Freedom of the media in Bangladesh was curtailed. Anyone who dared to speak the truth faced brutal repression. Journalists and citizens at all levels in Bangladesh had to live in constant fear."
Tarique Rahman further said: "By enacting one after another 'draconian law' such as the Digital Security Act and Cyber Security Act, freedom of the press and expression were imprisoned in a fearsome fortress. Although the media has enjoyed some freedom following the fall of the fascist government on August 5, it is still not completely free from the grip of fascist forces."
