Distinguished Professor Dr. Ali Riaz presented on freedom of expression in Bangladesh in a panel discussion held in Washington D.C. The event titled “Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh: Challenges Ahead” was organized by a rights organization named Right to Freedom (R2F).
Riaz said that the country has witnessed a serious decline of freedom of press in the past decade as reflected in the dwindling score in the Press Freedom Index published annually by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Bangladesh was ranked 163 out of 180 countries in 2023.
Riaz underscored that while the number of media—both newspapers and private television channels—have increased remarkably under the present government, independence of media has shrunk exponentially. Riaz noted that the shrinking of freedom of expression is intrinsically connected to the democratic backsliding of the country. He argued that the incumbent has limited press freedom through legal and extralegal measures. He specifically referred to the Digital Security Act 2018. He said without restoring democracy, freedom of expression cannot be ensured.
The panel participants included Dr. Steven Butler, a senior program consultant for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and CPJ’s former Asia program coordinator and Nurul Kabir, editor of the Bangladeshi English language daily, New Age. The discussion was moderated by President of the R2F and retired ambassador William B Milam and held at the National Press Club.
