British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke has reiterated the United Kingdom’s commitment to media freedom and professional journalism in Bangladesh, highlighting ongoing cooperation in training and fellowship opportunities for journalists.
She made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking as the chief guest at an iftar reception hosted by the British High Commission Dhaka.
The high commissioner said media freedom around the world is under growing pressure and emphasized the need for collective international efforts to protect independent journalism.
Cooke noted that the Media Freedom Coalition, established in 2019, now brings together 51 member states along with an active global network of embassies. The coalition works to highlight areas of concern and draw attention to journalists who are at risk.
She said that at a time when the global environment is becoming increasingly unstable and fragmented, the coalition provides countries with a strong collective voice in support of free and independent media.
According to her, the coalition aims to help countries sustain public interest media, navigate the opportunities and risks created by new technologies, and support women journalists in addressing the challenges they face.
Referring to Bangladesh, Cooke said the United Kingdom continues to work with local media professionals to strengthen their skills and support them in meeting the demands of modern journalism.
Highlighting the South Asian Journalism Fellowship, she said its alumni network continues to grow. She added that three more Bangladeshi journalists will travel to the United Kingdom this year to join the fellowship program.
The British envoy also referred to the strong sporting ties between the two countries, saying football and cricket are widely popular in both the United Kingdom and Bangladesh.
Cooke said she was particularly pleased that the Bangladesh women’s cricket team will tour England this summer to take part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
She also highlighted the broad cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, including economic growth, trade and investment, migration, security, climate issues, and the Rohingya refugee situation.
Extending greetings on the holy month of Ramadan, the high commissioner wished everyone a peaceful and blessed Ramadan.