Govt in dark unless media is free, says Irene

// Shamsul Basunia //

Irene Z Khan, director general of the International Development Law Organisation, has said development and democracy are not possible without the presence of free media and freedom of speech and the government will be in dark unless media is free.

The prominent rights activist Irene Z Khan made the observation on Monday afternoon while delivering a speech in Dhaka, titled ‘Human rights and free media: Beneficial or impediment for development’.

The speech, delivered at the Daily Star Centre, was organised by the Daily Star as part of its 25th founding anniversary celebrations.

Irene Khan, in her speech, talked about the history of free media in US and Europe and also about the media of developing countries including Bangladesh.

In a democratic country, political leadership gets changed if people have the freedom of speech. Journalists can disclose information for common people and this process ensures the government’s accountability towards its people, she said.

The government can, no way, decide what the media and individuals are to say or not to say. Development, free media and human rights are not separate.

Free media is good for people and it directly supports the government. People of such countries, where media is not free, do not even know about incidents within the country, she added.

Giving an example, she said people of China had little idea about AIDS and food for children due to lack of media.

The government remains in darkness if it controls the media, said Irene, also former secretary general of Amnesty International.

Appreciating Bangladesh’s Right to Information Act, Irene said the media should be given opportunities to grow, not to be controlled. More and more newspaper and electronic media houses are required and they should be given much more freedom.

Readers should be given an opportunity to select the media they want and choose their preferred government, she added.

However, media houses now enjoy less freedom in comparison to any other time. Moreover, media houses owned by individual ownership have become a matter of concern.

Freedom of media is never above accountability, she said.

When asked how media would work freely handling pressure from various quarters, Irene said media houses will always bear direct or indirect pressure but they must be firm in their position and reach their readers and viewers.