The problem with quantifying press freedom in a country is that it aims to transform data or metadata into an intangible idea. In fact, this happens every time when the various indices are prepared on the performances of nations the world over. Last year Bangladesh scored 33.71 points---an improvement by 16 clear points over that of its previous year. This year it surrendered some gains of last year to be placed at 152 slot with a score of 33.05 points among 180 nations. Last year it held the 149 spot. Now, how significant is the loss of three places in the World Press Freedom Index prepared by the Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders?
Apparently, the loss amounts to 0.66 but this alone is not the only determinant of the country's ranking. Other nations' performances can be decisive in Bangladesh's ranking as well. According to the RSF, the average score of all the countries this year has been the lowest in a quarter of a century. In that perspective Bangladesh has not performed very poorly. To prepare the index, the RSF takes into account five key indicators: a) political context, b) legal framework, c) economic conditions, d) socio-cultural environment and e) journalist safety.
Usually, the index is prepared on the basis of previous calendar year's state of press freedom but also takes into account the recent remarkable developments. On that count, it is likely that the February's national election was considered in the preparation of the Press Freedom Index for Bangladesh. Press freedom certainly has in it the reflection of the kind of democracy or its absence in a country. No wonder that the Nordic countries stay at the top of the list and the autocratic and theocratic regimes such as North Korea, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and even Russia languish at the bottom. Their scores on the five indicators are very low.
Then why did Banglesh's Press freedom ranking drop? There are certain issues that came as by-products of the July-August uprising. Some quarters took advantage of post-uprising vacuum of law enforcement created by a lack of assertion on the part of men in uniform, who felt demoralised for their role during the uprising. Indeed, both extremists and anti-liberation elements tried to fish in muddy water. A culture of mobocracy originated from the near absence of rule of law. Such a troubled social situation is not ideal for propagation of fearless journalism. In several cases, reporters were physically attacked by mobs. Press had to go for self censorship. A section of participants in the uprising was quite intimidating to newsmen collecting information.
The interim government did not help the cause either. When the mobs attacked and set the Prothom Alo and the Daily Star offices on fire, the role played by the Yunus government cannot be appreciated. It could do better instead of standing a silent spectator. Earlier, the Muktijuddha Jadughar (Liberation War Museum) fell victim to such arson. Many other infrastructure and sculptures including the one representing the swearing-in ceremony of the inaugural government at Baidyanathtala, Meherpur were desecrated and demolished. So the anti-Liberation forces got the message they so loved to receive from the administration. The Meherpur sculpture remains vandalised till today.
No journalist had the heart to call a spade a spade. There was an impression that Bangladesh was drifting from its axis but the Press had to think twice before pointing out that such retrogressive acts have nothing to do with the intrinsic spirit of the July-August uprising. The socio-cultural distortion at the hands of the aggressive mobs certainly earns poor ranking in terms of Press freedom. Now that a new government has taken the rein under the system of parliamentary democracy, the forces opposed to such a system are disillusioned and the extremists among them are threatening to destabilise society. The recent security alert was not for nothing.
Press freedom is undermined by socio-political anarchy. The legal parameter of a society is as good as the freedom and human rights its citizen can enjoy irrespective of their socio-economic standing. On that count, Bangladesh has a long way to go before it can establish the people's right to freedom of expression.
