BASOD stresses safe environment for independent journalism

Socialist Party of Bangladesh (BASOD) has called for an environment conducive to independent journalism, urging an end to attacks, lawsuits, threats and harassment against journalists.

Bazlur Rashid Firoz, general secretary of the party’s Central Committee, made the call in a statement issued to the media on Saturday.

Referring to recent incidents, Firoz expressed concerns over threats allegedly issued by a fundamentalist group against Dhaka University student and journalist Rajekuz-Zaman Jewel and the media outlet that published the report in question.

“Attacks on the media, harassment of journalists and attempts to silence independent journalism through lawsuits are completely unacceptable,” he noted, stressing that ensuring press freedom and the safety of journalists is a responsibility of the state.

He observed that allegations of attacks, legal harassment, threats and intimidation against journalists had emerged in connection with several incidents in recent days, creating insecurity among media workers and undermining the conditions necessary for independent journalism.