Call to ensure journos' security.

The Daily Star; Dhaka, Wednesday May 4 2011,

The World Press Freedom Day was observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe yesterday with this year's theme "21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers".

Different organisations arranged seminars and other programmes to mark the day.

Supro or Sushasoner Jonno Procharavizan (Campaign for Good Governance) formed a human chain in front of the National Museum.

At the event, the organisation demanded of the government to take necessary steps to ensure journalist's security so that they can work independently, says a press release.

Supro leaders said free and independent media is the prerequisite to national development; so press freedom has to be ensured.

Their other demands include full implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and giving recognition to the journalists contributing to build a society free of corruption.

Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) organised a seminar at IDB Bhaban in the city's Agargaon.

Speakers there stressed the need for ensuring freedom of the press and journalists and satisfying journalists' professional demands, says a press release.

They urged all to help build media as an industry by resisting usage of the evil forces.

Meanwhile, four organisations - Campaign in Citizen Rights to Information, Nagorik Uddyog, Green Voice, and Jubo Nagorik Adhikar Jote - jointly organised a human chain programme and street play in front of the National Museum.

Speakers at the programme said although a democratic government is in power now, many journalists were being killed and harassed, making the country as one of the top countries in terms of repressing journalists.

The culture of repression on media and journalists is not good for democracy, they said, demanding the government ensure freedom of press and security of journalists.

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press.

The day is also to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, according to the wikipedia.