World Press Freedom Day being observed

FT ONLINE

The World Press Freedom Day 2018 is being observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe today.

In 2018, UNESCO is leading the 25th celebration of World Press Freedom Day.

The main event, jointly organized by UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Ghana, has taken place in Accra, Ghana on 2 – 3 May.

This year’s global theme is ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’, and will cover issues of media and the transparency of the political process, the independence and media literacy of the judicial system, and the accountability of state institutions towards the public.

The Day will also examine contemporary challenges of ensuring press freedom online.

National Press Club has arranged a discussion marking the day at 10 in the morning. Besides, a number of organizations have also arranged discussions.

On the eve of the day, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu in a message on Wednesday said that World Press Freedom Day has immense significance to Bangladesh as the country was going through an unprecedented period when the mass media was flourishing and free.

It included three thousand publications annually, private television channels, FM radios and the voice of the voiceless-community radios, he said.

The number of online portal was also about two thousand, he added.

The information minister said that it was not only the government's responsibility but also that of the media workers, entrepreneurs and researchers to build on this exceptional boom.

Their opinion, he said, regarding the media would help the government to make the trend sustainable and instutionalize the government's effort further.