DHAKA, May 3, 2025 (BSS) - The World Press Freedom Day was observed today with the theme 'Reporting in the Brave New World - The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media'.

Every year, May 3 is observed as the World Press Freedom Day to evaluate press freedom around the world to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession, according to the website of UNESCO. 

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991, the website added.

Bangladesh has moved up 16 notches compared to last year in the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI).

WPFI is an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

RSF released the 2025 index on Friday (May 2) mentioning that Bangladesh ranks 149th out of 180 countries in the index with a score of 33.71. 

India secures 151st position in the index while Pakistan stands at 158th position.

RSF has been publishing an annual index on press freedom for 23 years.

Marking the 'World Press Freedom Day 2025', a discussion was organized at the Jatiya Press Club under the joint initiative of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists - BFUJ and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ). 

A special programme was also organized jointly by the UNESCO Dhaka Office, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and the Embassy of Sweden in the capital's Dhanmondi area. 

On the occasion of the day, Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media (BJIM) organized a symposium titled 'Bangladesh After the Monsoon Uprising: The Media Landscape' at Alliance FranØaise de Dhaka auditorium in Dhanmondi.