Let truth be worshiped, not falsehood

‘Visa policy to be applied on media’ - As US Ambassador Peter Haas announced, the outcry goes up. Journalists feel that the media is being squeezed by this announcement. However, it was not understood why the media people got so scared And Why can't something be said to the media workers even if the truth is deliberately served as a lie or a lie is served as the truth?

America was able to create panic around the world by talking about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Tony Blair, the then prime minister of England, an ally of the United States, also told parliament that Iraq could send a missile of mass destruction to London within 45 minutes. Then Western electronic media and newspapers also began to argue that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. In this propaganda, Muslim countries also took a stand in favor of the Western powers. As a result, Iraq was destroyed. Saddam Hussein had to die. Such cases are numerous. Despite all these disarrays, wouldn’t the media be punished for telling lies? Even then, the media will remain free from the visa policy? Why?

Most of the media have ignored the principle of neutrality. The exponent of freedom of speech, the American media are divided into two groups. Some media supports Trump and the Republican Party, while others support Joe Biden and the Democratic Party. America's divisive media does not say anything against the groups it supports. Even it does not hesitate to hide the truth and spread lies. Trump mocked the media that opposed him with the term 'Fake News Award'. Bangladesh's print and electronic media are privately owned but divided into political parties and ideologies. Along with this, the magazine owner's own thoughts and opinions have been added. Media workers are influenced by the mindset of owners and editors. So, News gets twisted according to their instructions. Besides, like most people in Bangladesh, the journalist community is divided into two groups - Awami League and anti-Awami League.

It is hard to find ‘Neutrality' in Bangladesh. Also, it is not easy to ensure the correct information of the election. Which party's information the US would be accepting as truth for their visa policy? Moreover, it wouldn’t be possible for America to appoint thousands of observers in thousands of polling stations, so America will have to rely on Bangladeshi media. But it has been noticed that social media is full of lies and rumors. No one can guarantee the impartiality of all the media workers who will be present during the poll monitoring.

‘Adhikar’ is a member of the International Federation of Human Rights. In 2013, they published a fact-finding report on the measures taken by the police on the position of Hefazat Islam at Motijheel Shapla Chattar. The report said that 61 people died but their names and addresses were not mentioned. Challenging this number of deaths, the police asked them to release the names and addresses of the dead mentioned in the report. But 'Adhikaar' ignored their request citing safety concerns of the affected families.

The government's information ministry also sent a letter to Adhikar asking for details including names and addresses of 61 people. But they refused to give any information. They also provide this list of dead to five organizations at home and abroad. In this situation, a case was filed against the 'Adhikar' organization.The court sentenced Adilur Rahman Khan, editor of 'Adhikar' and ASM Nasir Uddin Elan, director, to 2 years in prison on charges of spreading false information and confusion about the number of deaths.

'Adhikar’ resorted to another lie. It included some old photos of vandalism from various periods unrelated to the evacuation to the report. Following the filing of the case, numerous human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and others called for the unconditional withdrawal of all charges brought against 'Adhikar'.

In the same tone, 183 eminent persons demanded that all the cases filed against Dr. Yunus be suspended. All these human rights organizations and prominent individuals have made the rule of law secondary and unimportant while establishing freedom of speech and human rights. They must know that it is not possible to establish human rights by obstructing judicial proceedings. Rather than asking for withdrawal of charges or stay of cases, it is more reasonable to raise voice for transparent judicial process and independence of judiciary.

However, no human rights organization is saying this specifically Adhikar's report on the death toll is correct. They are just supporting lies in the name of freedom of speech. Their strange behavior seems to encourage lies to protect liars. If it is wrong to accuse falsely, then why do we swear by touching the Holy Quran, Gita, Tripitaka etc. while standing in the court?

Regarding the number of the dead, govt said 11 people, Hefazet Islam said 73, BNP and Jamaat Islam demanded thousands. However, no one is revealing the name and address of the deceased but the govt.

The European Parliament has expressed its concern over the imprisonment of Adhikar's Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasir Uddin Elan. Human rights organizations are also voiced about disappearances in Bangladesh. But to establish the accountability of the government, the reasons for the disappearances and accurate statistics are needed.

If it is said that all those who have gone missing are BNP leaders and workers, then those who are willingly covering their heads despite being involved in militant activities will also become BNP workers. We have noticed that, many go into hiding despite committing serious crimes. Some also cover their heads to trap their opponents. It has also been found that 2 Indian separatist leaders are among the list of missing persons by the United Nations. So those who gave the list to the UN with wrong information should also be punished.

It is said that the US strongly supports the activities of human rights and civil society organizations in the protection of human rights. Well, why did they step up to punish Julian Assange, an Australian citizen then? Julian is not a spy. Even he did not steal any secret US documents. Others provided nearly five million US military documents to the web platform he founded, WikiLeaks. Julian just leaked them. He did not commit any sin by releasing these documents about US military misdeeds in Afghanistan and Iraq. As Assange did, investigative journalists often do that. However, the US wants to sentence him to 175 years in prison.

Today he is considered as the most wanted accused in America. But arresting and prosecuting Assange for publishing the truth is a serious blow to the freedom of the press and free speech. The Western world, which has stepped up to justify the disinformation of 'Adhikar' organizations, is blocking the truth, saying, "Assange will not be protected in the name of freedom of speech, if he is found guilty".

According to international human rights law, freedom of speech is the right to freely express opinions without hindrance, to collect any information from any medium in the world and to communicate that information orally, in writing, in art or in any other medium. However, in exercising this right of freedom of speech, a sense of responsibility must be awakened. Freedom of speech cannot be abused. Behavior that disturbs the security of the country cannot be done. The free exercise of freedom of speech is not acceptable if someone is defamed, insulted, slandered, rumored, assaulted by obscene or offensive words. That is why, it is restricted by law. When one's freedom of speech creates conflict with others, it becomes necessary to suppress that freedom of speech.

It’s been noticed that many have united in self-interest to establish lies and rumors. The use of crude, vulgar language to suppress the truth can also be seen on social media. Not only that, in the name of freedom of speech, personal attacks, threats, untruths, misinformation, rumors are spreading through social media. People are getting confused, chaos is being created in the society. People are also indulging in violence. So, it is important to prevent rumors and lies. For this reason, digital law is needed.

Chanting lies in the name of freedom of speech and humanity is not acceptable. A person who is against digital law is also in favor of blasphemy law. Third world ruling parties want to suppress freedom of speech, while opposition parties want free speech. Dr. Yunus, the media, all want indemnity. They don't want to face justice for lying, they want protection to be free. On the flip side, everyone is afraid of media as it plays with truth and lies. Possibly, to counter this fear, some owners of immense wealth have recently become media owners.

Although the western authorities are united to punish Snowden, Manning and Assange for revealing the truth, the images of the three of them have been exposed in Berlin, Germany, on the initiative of the members of the Green Party. These three have achieved the status of heroes to the new generation. An empty chair is placed next to these three images for anyone to stand and speak the truth. So, the new generation should be a devotee in the pursuit of truth.

Author: Former Executive Director, Bangladesh Bank and Former Managing Director, The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd. Mint