‘Stand by media houses’

Saida Muna Tasneem, high commissioner for Bangladesh to the UK, has called upon the Commonwealth to support sustainability and economic viability of news and media houses across the Commonwealth, especially in the developing countries during the Covid crisis.

She also called for enhanced transparency of internet companies, and greater media and information literacy among young people to ensure that information is indeed delivered as "public good".

The diplomat said Bangladesh government is committed to work closely with the UK, Namibia and Commonwealth fraternity to continually uphold and improve media freedom nationally, globally and within the Commonwealth.

Tasneem, also board of governor member at the Commonwealth, made the remarks at a virtual event organised by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and High Commission of Namibia, on "Media Freedom in the Commonwealth" on Wednesday in London, said a press release.

The event was co-hosted by the UK and Namibia at the advent of the World Press Freedom Day Conference 2021 scheduled to be hosted in Windhoek, Namibia on April 29-May 3 in collaboration with the Unesco.

Reflecting on the theme of this year's World Press Freedom Day, "Information as a Public Good", the high commissioner paid her tributes to journalists all around the world including those who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Tasneem also briefed the Commonwealth meeting on wide-ranging initiatives and reforms undertaken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government towards rapid liberalisation, privatisation and expansion of Bangladesh's print, electronic and digital media industry over the past decade.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC and high commissioners of a number of Commonwealth countries, spoke on the occasion.

The meeting was co-chaired by head of Media Freedom at the UK FCDO, Kanbar Hussein and High Commissioner of Namibia to the UK, Linda Scott.