BD slips 10 notches in press freedom index, worst in S Asia

Bangladesh ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI) 2022 showing that the country slipped ten notches compared to 2021 Index, report agencies.
Reporters Without Borders, also known as Reporters sans frontières (RSF), released the index on Tuesday marking the World Press Freedom Day. Bangladesh's position was 152nd last year.
However, rejecting the report in World Press Freedom Index, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the report is malicious, objectionable and unacceptable.
Bangladesh's neighbour India's ranking in the WPFI has fallen down to 150th position from last year's 142nd rank out of 180 countries, according to the report by the global media watchdog.
The ranking of other neighbours, except that of Nepal, have also slid down, with the index placing Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position.
According to the 2022 WPFI, Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
Last year, the Himalayan nation had been placed at 106th position, Pakistan at 145th, Sri Lanka 127th, Bangladesh 152nd and Myanmar at 140th position in the index.
RSF in its report said the internet plays a growing role in the circulation of news and information in Bangladesh.
The two leading state broadcasters, Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar radio, function as government propaganda outlets.
The densely populated private sector media landscape includes 3,000 print media outlets, 30 radio stations, 30 TV channels and several hundred news websites, said the RSF.
The two "all news" channels, Somoy TV and Ekattor TV, are very popular.
The two leading dailies, the Bengali-language Prothom Alo and English-language The Daily Star, manage to maintain a certain editorial independence, it said.
This year, Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders.
Meanwhile, Dr Hasan Mahmud said, "Paris-based RSF is always malicious towards Bangladesh. They published a report on our beloved Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year that contained objectionable statements."
The minister stated these at a press briefing at his residence at Dewanzi Pukur Par in Chattogram.
Hasan said they (RSF) also published untrue and fabricated reports on Bangladesh's media. The unions of journalists of the country protested their reports that time, he said, adding, even some Bangladeshi expatriates in France have sent legal notice to the organisation through a lawyer.
He said, in the legal notice, it was mentioned that RSF could not make such statements against any country or head of the government as per the law of France.
They did this by violating the law of France, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
So, the minister said, the report over Bangladesh's rank is not acceptable in anyhow and it is objectionable and malicious.
He said the RSF collected data and information from those persons who are spreading propaganda continuously against the country abroad. The report has no value and the organization is publishing reports against Bangladesh continuously with ill intention, he added.
He said the RSF has also talked about the Digital Security Act (DSA). There was no need of the act when the issue of digital systems did not exist, he said.
But, he said, presently the act is needed to ensure digital security of people to save them from harassment on digital platforms as anyone can take shelter of the act.