The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) has called on all in positions of influence in Bangladeshi society to speak up for press freedom, the right of journalists to work without fear of retribution or harm, and the need to hold to account those responsible for attacks on journalists.
“Journalists play a vital role in asking difficult questions, reporting the facts, and promoting the free flow of ideas,” the MFC said in a press statement on Thursday.
The statement was signed by the embassies/high commissions of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States which are the members of the coalition in Bangladesh.
The MFC members said they “are deeply concerned at the deadly June 15 attack on Golam Rabbani Nadeem, the Jamalpur district correspondent of BanglaNews24.com and the Bakshiganj upazila correspondent of Ekattor TV.”
Offering sincerest condolences to his family and friends, the coalition said, “We are encouraged to learn that authorities have taken action by arresting the suspected perpetrators of the killing and by initiating legal proceedings.”
