Freedom of judiciary, media a must to ensure people's rights

Noted human rights activist Sultana Kamal yesterday said freedom of the press and judiciary is imperative to ensure peoples' rights.

“People's rights will be ensured if the media and judiciary become free,” she said at the 18th monthly lecture titled, “The judiciary and limits to freedom of press", organised by Reading Club Trust and Gyantapas Abdur Razzaq Foundation in the RC Majumdar auditorium of Dhaka University.

Sultana Kamal also called upon the government to exclude provision like section 57 of ICT Act while formulating the proposed Digital Act.

She also urged the lawmakers to be conscious while enacting any law.

The human rights activist said if parliament does not remain active, freedom of media and judiciary will not be ensured.

Mizanur Rahman Khan, joint editor and an analyst of the constitution who was the key speaker at the lecture, said press freedom and freedom of expression depend on the independence of the judiciary.

If the state files any lawsuit against any journalist or a person for writing against the government, it is only the judiciary that can save the victim, he said.

The constitution of Bangladesh has specified freedom of the media, which is not mentioned in the constitution of many countries including Indian and Pakistan, he added.