Continuation of free and fair elections and the freedom that the press enjoyed since restoration of democracy in 1991 have brought accolades for the country. In fact, free media has been a prized possession of ours with its potential for lending support to the development of all democratic institutions. But political intolerance triggered by the unending duel between the two major parties and indulgence given to vested quarters, another corollary to confrontational politics, are hampering the growth of democracy as a self-sustaining process. And the press is the first victim of these negative developments.

The CPJ reference to the state of journalism has obviously been prompted by the recent spate of killings and oppression that newsmen have been subjected to. We don't want to go into any debate over the degree of violence that local journalists are exposed to, but the ground reality is that journalists are under threat. And that is an ominous thing both for the press and the future of the country.

There is truth in the contention that the situation has been aggravated by the government's inability to bring the killers/oppressors to justice, despite its assurance that all the cases of journalists being killed or oppressed would be resolved. We have come under international scrutiny because more and more journalists are being attacked. The killing of Manik Saha in Khulna, for example, was a rude shock to both the local and the international press. The killers have not yet been arrested, let alone handing conviction to them. We cannot disagree with the observation that the situation is not improving because the killers have not been punished. Letting them escape scot-free also amounts to grossly underrating the value of the lives of journalists.

This, then, is the situation. The government and the political parties have to attach due importance to the truth that it is not enough that press be free; it must also be guaranteed that this freedom is not attacked by the forces opposed to peace and progress.