Gopal Sengupta
From the media, it has reported that the deputy commissioner is the authority to closure of a Bengali daily.Then question comes to our mind, is the concerned official the only authority instead of the concerned ministry's instruction. Information Minister told Parliament yesterday that the government had not shut down the Bengali daily and that it was the deputy commissioner of Dhaka, who ordered its closure for alleged violation of the publication law.He said this while responding to the allegation of BNP MP who said that the government shut the newspaper. "The deputy commissioner, be it of Sherpur or Dhaka districts, is the authority to give declaration for newspapers. The DC can cancel the publication in case of any of violation of the law," said Information Minister.At one stage during his prolonged speech, he resorted to personal attack against opposition MP. Speaker intervened, saying, "Honorable minister, your point is: the deputy commissioner has closed the Amar Desh and the High Court shut the Channel One". "Yes, honorable Speaker," said concerned minister adding the present government believed in free flow of information.
Mr. Minister, a lie would have no sense unless the truth were felt to be dangerous.You are not entitled to an opinion. An opinion is what you have when you don't have any facts. When you have the facts, you don't need an opinion. If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. In the ground reality, the concerned quarters are very concerned at the recent closure of media outlets. This raises question of media freedom in Bangladesh, which is vital for functioning and sustainable democracy though .reaffirming ruling administration's commitment towards freedom of expression, prime minister has said the media in Bangladesh enjoys freedom. Meanwhile, two western governments have expressed concern over closure of media outlets in Bangladesh and said that the freedom of media is vital for a functioning and sustainable democracy.
It is not as if bureaucrats are for diluting the spirit of the Right to Information Act by bringing in the closure of the media exempting file noting's. They cannot but record the facts in their notings. It is their political masters who take decisions that are many a time contrary to the advice of the officials, to suit their political ends. The action is meant only to protect the politicians .Bureaucrats are being made scapegoats .Bureaucrats are paid taxpayers' money to advise the government without fear or favor. Just as the armed forces are expected to fight the enemy without regard to their safety, bureaucrats are duty-bound to note down their opinions fearlessly in files. Any risk they are exposed to because of frank and fearless expression of opinions should be treated as a legitimate occupational hazard. The basis of a democratic government is the opinion of the people. Unless the people become conversant with the operation of the Right to Information Act, the purpose of the act will be nullified.
(Gopal Sengupta writes from Canada. He can be reached at gopalsengupta @aol.com)
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