Dhaka: The World Press Freedom Day is being observed on Wednesday in the country as elsewhere across the world.

The theme of this year’s day is ‘Critical minds for critical times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and participatory society’.

World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform all that freedom of press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights.

On the occasion of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, United Nations Secretary‐General Antonio Guterres has called for an end to crackdowns on journalists who he described as a ‘voice of the voiceless’.

To mark the day, National Press Club organised a discussion at 11:00am.

Bangladesh Online Media Association will also hold a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club at 3:30 pm.

In a message on Tuesday, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said the World Press Freedom Day has immense significance to Bangladesh as the country is seeing a media boom amid press freedom.

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.