'Fight for the freedom of media'

Renowned cultural personalities have called for everyone to fight for the freedom of media to counter fundamentalism, injustice, and corruption in the society.

They expressed their views at a discussion meeting and recitation event organized by Pen Bangladesh to celebrate "World Press Freedom Day 2019", on Saturday.

"Worldwide, the freedom of press has come under threat," speakers said at the event. "But restriction in the freedom of press is a blow to society's conscience.

"Press is like a mirror," they said. "It is the job of everyone who sees their reflection in the mirror, to fight to safeguard the freedom of media, so that it can, in turn, fight against injustice and corruption."

The event was held in the Pen Bangladesh headquarters in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Its President, and author, Syed Manzoorul Islam, presided over the event. The main prose was presented by Head of News of Gazi TV, Syed Ishtiaque Reza.

Poets Shamim Reza, Lovely Bashar, Farhana Rahman, Aniket Shamim, Ferdousi Mahmud, authors Hamim Kamrul Huq, and others attended the event.