World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. It is an opportunity to: celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence; and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. In 2016, World Press Freedom Day coincides with three important milestones: The 250th anniversary of the world’s first freedom of information law, covering both modern-day Sweden and Finland; The 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration of press freedom principles; The year 2016 is also the first year of the 15 year life-cycle of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN Secretary-General’s Message on the Day

To mark the Day UNESCO Dhaka Office organized a seminar  titled, ‘The State of Press Freedom in Bangladesh: Challenges and Way Forward’ at CIRDAP auditorium on 3 May 2016. UNESCO Representative Ms Beatrice Kaldun delivered the introductory speech while Chief Information Commissioner Prof Dr Md Golam Rahman Spoke as chief guest. The key-note paper was presented by Prof Dr Abu J M Shafiul Alam Bhaiyan. Among others Advocate Sultana Kamal and Toufique Imrose Khalidi spoke on the occasion. UNIC Officer-in-Charge was present in the seminar. Mass-line Media Centre (MMC) and ICS co-organized the event.