To say that the recent letter sent by the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) as a word of caution to the nation’s overarching press media is concerning would be an understatement.
The letter, which questions the coverage of graft allegations against certain members -- both former and current -- of Bangladesh’s law enforcement can be interpreted as an ostensible threat to free and fair journalism in our nation as it denounces the news reports as a “smear campaign” against the accused.
It is deeply worrying that the immediate response from a formal body representing the nation’s law enforcement towards these reports is one of quick dismissal instead of introspection as corruption within our administrative ranks is nothing out of the ordinary. But what is perhaps even more unsettling is that certain members of the BPSA are perhaps even considering legal action.
Given the ubiquity and consistency with which news organizations have been reporting on allegations of corruption within our law enforcement, for a group such as the BPSA to brand practically all coverage as “exaggerated reports” in such a blanket manner is at best disingenuous and at worst shows a reluctance to admit that our law enforcement can make mistakes.
As a nation, Bangladesh has made impressive strides in a host of indicators and metrics, but press freedom is one area where we have historically fared poorly and the country continues slipping below in the World Press Freedom Index seemingly year after year. A free press is the cornerstone of any working democracy as it represents the people’s right to be informed while also channeling the public’s innate desire to speak truth to power.
Branding the important work honest journalists do as “misleading” does a disservice to the nation and its people.
