The fourth estate in peril
The press is called the fourth estate of a democracy. “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter,” said Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, highlighting the importance of the press.
The press caries divergent opinion and views that reflect that of the population in a whole. It is the character of democracy that people with different views will coexist peacefully. In a democracy you do not punish dissent. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened in our country for quite some time. With the Digital Security Bill passed in the parliament defying the concerns of the editors, freedom of press and expression will be further curtailed.
Md. Zillur Rahaman
By e-mail
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