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Bangladesh
Constitutional guarantees of press freedom
are subject to "reasonable restrictions" in
the interest of security, foreign relations,
public order, decency, or morality. Defamation
and incitement to violence are prohibited.
Broadcast media are state-owned and heavily
favor the government. The print media are
diverse and outspoken, though they face severe
pressure. Violence directed at journalists
and their institutions escalated in 1999.
Insurgent activists and the police attacked
the press as the government heightened its
defense against the politics of strikes and
demonstrations. In the melees, some 40 reporters
and 50 press photographers were assaulted
and injured. Ten sustained bullet wounds,
three were arrested and others charged. Seven
newspaper offices were attacked, and death
threats were received by at least eleven journalists.
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