Strong government support is necessary to prevent obstruction

Among the countries most vulnerable to global climate change disasters, Bangladesh stands out. Therefore, it is evident how crucial environmental protection is for Bangladesh. If we cannot preserve the integrity of our environment, it will be self-destructive for us. Since we are not very conscious as a nation, we can easily overlook greater interests for trivial gains. Hence, by neglecting environmental protection, we are not only displaying negligence but also extreme irresponsibility and ignorance.

Last Saturday (May 4), the National Press Club organized the Editor's Council to observe 'World Press Freedom Day 2024.' During the event themed 'Media for the Planet: Journalism in Environmental Crisis,' speakers highlighted that there has been significant censorship in environmental journalism in the country. One journalist is facing scrutiny in 13 cases due to reporting on the environment. Many others have also been threatened with dire consequences.

Environmental journalists worldwide are increasingly under attack. From 2009 to 2023, 44 environmental journalists in 15 countries lost their lives to such attacks, while 24 fortunate ones managed to survive deadly assaults. These attacks and intimidations mostly stem from individuals and groups connected with the state's power structure. According to a UNESCO report, 'Police, military, government officials and employees and local government authorities are responsible for such attacks and intimidation.'

In our country as well, the situation is similar. Indicating towards this, the President of the Editors' Council and Editor of The Daily Star, Mahfuz Anam, remarked during the meeting, 'If I engage in environmental journalism today, many will stand against me; many powerful individuals will oppose.' It's widely known that the powerful entities in this country are destroying its rivers, forests, and mountains. There's no one capable of resisting them. Many of them operate under political shadows. Even when journalists try to publish news against them, they threaten the journalists.

Against environmental journalism, all the powerful entities in the world are now united. The source of their power is wealth. They have amassed wealth by destroying the environment and nature. To sustain capitalism, just as there is a need for warfare, conflict, and bloodshed on one side, similarly, there is a need for the destruction of the environment and nature on the other. If we cannot survive from the damages of capitalism, then we will not survive from environmental degradation either. Without being aware of this right now, there is no other way to survive. And increasing awareness in people's minds does this work, newspapers. A journalist actually struggles to save humanity by risking their livelihood. The lives of environmental journalists are currently in turmoil due to certain unscrupulous powers. It is an undeniable truth that if the lives of these journalists are disrupted, the lives of the people will be disrupted, and the lives of many species will also be disrupted.

The most important thing to prevent obstruction in environmental journalism in the country is the unequivocal support of the government. The Editors' Council has also indicated that if the government provides strong support for environmental journalism, the media can play an extensive role as an assisting force in the development of the country. Hopefully, the government will realize that ensuring the utmost security for environmental journalists at any cost is imperative.