Staff Reporter:
The World Press Freedom Day was observed yesterday in the country as elsewhere in the world with the global theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development, and Security”.
Every year, May 3 is observed as the World Press Freedom Day to evaluate press freedom around the world to defend the media from attacks on their independence.
Marking the ‘World Press Freedom Day 2026’, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting brought out a procession and organized a discussion in the capital this morning aiming to highlight the role of media in ensuring transparency and accountability in the digital era.
The procession was brought out this morning from the Officers’ Club premises, which ended at the Tathya Bhaban after parading city streets, according to an official handout here yesterday.
Later, a discussion was held at the conference room of the Department of Films and Publications in “Tathya Bhaban” (Information Building) complex on Circuit House Road here.
Speaking at the discussion, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said the gov-ernment will initiate the process of forming a strong Media Commission aimed at building an independ-ent and responsible media structure in the country.
UNESCO Bangladesh and Transparency International Bangladesh jointly organized a dialogue marking the World Press Freedom Day at MIDAS Center in the city yesterday.
Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman said the government is working to rebuild a strong, independent and vibrant media in the country.
The day was also observed in different divisional cities, district towns with holding discussions and sem-inars and bringing out processions demanding press freedom and professional safety of journalists.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recom-mendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991.
The day is observed to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in discharging their profession-al duties, according to the website of UNESCO.
