TIB Condemns Bangladesh Police Service Association’s Statement as Threat to Press Freedom

23 June 2024

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has condemned the recent statement by means of the Bangladesh Police Service Association (BPSA) regarding journalism and media, viewing it as a good sized risk to press freedom. TIB believes the announcement is a deliberate try and prevent the publicity of corruption, specially in cases concerning former top police officers accused of gathering good sized wealth.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, TIB Executive Director, criticized the BPSA’s dismissal of corruption reports concerning former officers. He cautioned that the affiliation’s statement may imply a scientific effort to protect the ones accused inside the pressure. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman emphasized that this type of stance isn’t always simplest a chance to press freedom however also a violation of residents’ constitutional right to statistics. He accused the police association of denying truth, likening their conduct to an ostrich burying its head within the sand.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman refuted the BPSA’s claim that reporting on corruption tarnishes the police’s photograph. He argued that this response raises issues approximately the police pressure’s capability and integrity in addressing corruption. Instead of brushing off the reports, he counseled that a extra positive technique would were to announce an internal research or support an unbiased probe into the allegations. This might have confirmed the police pressure’s commitment to tackling corruption.

Acknowledging the police pressure’s contributions to the us of a, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman asserted that those contributions need to no longer be used to justify or guard corrupt practices. He emphasized that the abuse of strength and corruption can not be tolerated, regardless of the police’s beyond contributions.

Following the BPSA’s declaration, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, urging media warning when reporting on the police. TIB interpreted this as an ominous sign for media freedom and democratic accountability in Bangladesh. Dr. Iftekharuzzaman accused the Ministry of Home Affairs of hindering transparency by way of allegedly concealing records about corruption, which poses a critical difficulty for the u . S .’s dedication to public safety and democratic standards.

The Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) and the Bangladesh Journalists’ Council (BJC) have additionally expressed worries over the BPSA’s assertion, fearing it can encourage corruption by using discouraging investigative journalism. The BPSA’s condemnation of media reports came amid the Anti-Corruption Commission’s inquiry into the belongings of former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed and previous Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, each accused of collecting unlawful wealth.

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