Nine countries will monitor freedom of press in Bangladesh

CHT Desk:

Global campaigner Media Freedom Coalition, also known as MFC, launched its diplomatic network initiative in Bangladesh at a programme at the US Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday. 

The announcement of the media observation in Bangladesh came from the meeting of the coalition held on Thursday, said a press release from the US embassy to Dhaka.

Nine countries which are the members of MFC will monitor the freedom of press in Bangladesh, said the press release.

The senior diplomats of the United State, United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland to Dhaka will hold meetings regularly to discuss whether the journalism is carried out independently in the country, the release reads.

The Coalition is currently a partnership of cross-regional countries which advocates for media freedom worldwide. The diplomatic network initiative is composed of diplomates of its member countries who are able to closely monitor the media freedom situation in their designated countries, according to the press release.

Diplomats from member countries of the organisation joined Thursday’s event in Dhaka to discuss issues related to media freedom, reads the release. 

US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Helen LaFave thanked the attending representatives for launching the MFC’s diplomatic network initiative and for their support of press freedom. 

Civil society members and journalists attended the event and shared their experiences related to media freedom. The attendees discussed the current media landscape and developments in Bangladesh, including the censoring of online news portals and recent cases of harassment and intimidation of journalists.

The MFC is committed to discussing these issues with the media, civil society, government, and other stakeholders to support media freedom in Bangladesh, the release reads.

The Media Freedom Coalition is a cross-regional partnership of countries working together to advocate for media freedom, both online and offline. The MFC advocates for the safety of journalists and media workers, and holds to account those who harm journalists and severely restrict them from doing their job.

The Diplomatic Network Initiative is composed of members from around the world. The diplomatic missions of MFC member states are able to closely monitor the media freedom situation in the countries where they are based and take a range of collective actions to protect and advance media freedom.

The MFC was established in July 2019 at the Global Conference for Media Freedom and now comprises over 50 member states from six continents, the release also reads.