Women’s Rights and the Fourth Estate

Freedom of the press, an offshoot of freedom of thought, conscience and speech, is instrumental for establishing a fair, transparent and free democratic state. Article 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees freedom of thought as well as speech, expression and the press, subject to some restrictions.1 While the press currently operates largely free from government interventions, there is tension between free speech and restrictions on the press made for purposes such as promoting public order and morality. In 2009, the Government of Bangladesh ratified the Right to Information Act (RTI). This is a very important development to ensure access to information that could eventually lead to a more effective media.

By Khan, Arafat