News Flash
DHAKA, Mar 1, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh is now fully open to international journalists, marking a significant shift from ousted Awami league regime’s restrictions, said Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari.
“There was a time when Bangladesh was almost off-limits to foreign journalists for professional reasons. Now, those restrictions are gone,” he stated when hosted a media reception in Mexico City on Friday, according to a message received here today.
Ansari said, the current interim government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has lifted these unwritten bans and invited international media professionals to witness the real situation on the ground.
The event, held at Bangladesh House in Mexico City, brought together prominent journalists from global media outlets, including Will Grant (BBC correspondent for Mexico, Central America, and Cuba, and author of Populista: The Rise of Latin America’s 21st), Thomas Graham (The Guardian), José de Córdoba (The Wall Street Journal), M. Harris Dal Hollen (The Economist), and Carolina Millán (bureau chief, Bloomberg News).
Others in attendance included Matt Yack (columnist), Carmen Otero (Diplomatic Magazine - Mondo), Dr. Marion Lloyd (Boston Globe columnist and professor at UNAM), Katerina Morbiato (AP), Victoria Dittmar (Insight Crime), Johnny Warrett (OCCRP), and Dr. Aribel Contreras (professor, Iberoamericana University).
During the interactive discussion, the attendees inquired about Bangladesh’s political landscape, upcoming elections, and its standing on the global stage.
Ambassador Ansari highlighted the end of what he described as a long period of autocratic rule under Sheikh Hasina.
“Bangladesh’s students and people have set a remarkable precedent by bringing an end to dictatorship, though thousands of youth had to sacrifice their lives in the process,” he said.
Citing the recent report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, he added, “Investigative teams have found evidence linking Sheikh Hasina to these brutal crackdowns.”
Emphasizing the role of youth leadership in securing democracy, Ansari noted that political groups fought tirelessly against Hasina’s extended rule, enduring arrests, enforced disappearances, and killings.
He reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to a free and fair election, stating, “We are working on necessary institutional reforms, and elections are expected to take place by the end of this year or early next year.”
Touching on bilateral ties, Ansari highlighted that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Mexico.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening trade and communication, calling for the establishment of a Mexican embassy in Bangladesh to further enhance diplomatic engagement.
The event was concluded with a dinner featuring traditional Bangladeshi cuisine, offering guests a taste of the country’s rich culinary heritage.
