British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke on Thursday visited Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The meeting, held in the afternoon at the ministry, focused on various ongoing initiatives and activities of the ministry, including media reforms and freedom of the press.
During the discussion, Adviser Mahfuj Alam said that a number of reform initiatives are currently underway, guided by the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission. He noted that the government is actively considering the formulation of an ordinance to define the responsibilities of journalists and ensure their protection under the law.
Highlighting recent initiatives, the adviser mentioned that the ministry has taken steps to raise public awareness about the historic July Uprising, in which regard, several documentaries and publications have already been produced.
On the issue of press freedom, Mahfuj Alam asserted that the current interim government remains committed to ensuring a free and independent media landscape in the country.
British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, in her remarks, praised Bangladesh for its progress in the World Press Freedom Index this year. She congratulated the government on this achievement and expressed hope that further advancements would follow.
Cooke also shared insights from her own country’s experience regarding the freedom and accountability of the media. She expressed the willingness of the United Kingdom to work closely with Bangladesh for the development of its media sector and to promote best practices in journalism.
Several matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom were discussed during the meeting, with both sides expressing a commitment to continued cooperation in the field of media and communication.