Bangladesh interim government information and broadcasting adviser Md Mahfuj Alam on Friday said that Bangladesh has advanced 16 places in the World Press Freedom Index in a year due to the absence of the government interference in the media.
He said this while responding to Bangladesh鈥檚 position in the WPFI published on the website of Reporters Without Borders, according to a press release signed by public relations officer of the information and broadcasting ministry Md Mamun Or Rashid on the day.
Referring to the interim government鈥檚 initiatives to establish media freedom, the adviser said that all media outlets in the country, including Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, are now free from government influence.
The government is not interfering in any media organisation by making telephone calls, he added.
The government has already taken several initiatives to free and strengthen the country鈥檚 media, he said, adding that Bangladesh鈥檚 16-place advancement in the WPFI proves that the government is working to free and strengthen the country鈥檚 media.
Mahfuj Alam said that several reform activities will be undertaken very soon as per the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission.
The adviser expressed the hope that Bangladesh will move a few steps further in the WPFI next year and the rights of the country鈥檚 journalists and media professionals will be protected.
Bangladesh has been ranked 149th out of 180 countries in the WPFI-2025, published on the website of the Paris-based organization RSF on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
Bangladesh鈥檚 rank was 165th in the index in the past year.
Neighboring India is staying two-place below the Bangladesh鈥檚 position in the index this year securing 151st place.
When the Awami League government took office in 2009, Bangladesh鈥檚 position was 121st in the index.
During the Awami League鈥檚 rule, Bangladesh has slipped 44 places in the index in the past 15 years.