The third president of the United States of America, Thomas Jefferson had said, "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter."
The press is called the fourth pillar of a democracy. Different opinions and views are published in the newspapers and this is how democracy works. Different opinions also help to promote and enrich democracy.
In Bangladesh, mass media can play an important role in strengthening democracy and the rule of law.
But the Jatiya Sangsad has recently passed the Digital Security Act, ignoring the concerns from journalists and civil society members. Journalists have claimed that this act can curtail freedom of expression and difference in opinions in the electronic, print media and social media platforms like facebook and twitter.
Some civil society members have opined that following this act, self-censorship is likely to increase in society. Some have also warned that this law can be abused to harass innocent people. The government should seriously consider the points raised by the journalist community about the law.
Md. Zillur Rahaman
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd,
Lalmohan Branch, Bhola.
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