Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior leader Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday said that the freedom of the press was missing in Bangladesh under the one-party rule of Sheikh Hasina.

‘The fundamental principle of World Press Freedom Day is enshrined in the United Nation’s charter. The core principle of free press is the attainment of democracy; because of democracy, the UN has thought about free press and declared the World Press Freedom Day,’ he told a discussion.

Moyeen, a former information minister, emphasised the crucial role of press freedom in safeguarding democratic principles and ensuring the expression of diverse voices within society.

He said a free press cannot exist in a country where democracy is absent and where one-party rule is established by snatching freedom of expression and forcing people to think along the same lines of the ruler.

‘When the 180 million people of Bangladesh are coerced to align with the policies, rhetoric, and mindset of the Awami League, and where people are compelled to follow the same line, the freedom of the press or free press cannot exist in such a country,’ the BNP leader observed.

Pro-BNP faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists arranged the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club, marking World Press Freedom Day.

Abdul Moyeen, a BNP standing committee member, underscored the need for a fresh perspective on democracy, a fundamental principle upon which Bangladesh was established.

‘Free press is the cornerstone to protect that democracy. It’s now imperative to restore press freedom in Bangladesh to safeguard democracy. This should be our pledge on World Press Freedom Day,’ he said.

The BNP leader said he thinks the media holds more power than the state and the media often wields greater influence than the government in a country.

‘No matter how powerful the government may be, if they commit any misdeed, the media can expose this. The media can also shape and break that state. The sooner the current government realises this reality, the more beneficial it will be for them,’ he said.