Nat'l media commission, new laws recommended to protect journo rights

Highlights:

• New laws recommended for media accountability, journos' protection
• Bringing BTV, Betar, BSS under one roof among proposals
• It includes unification of PIB and NIMCO
• Transparency sought in DFP's media listing, circulation data
• BSCL should be made responsible for television TRP
• Aligning fresher journos' basic pay with BCS Grade-9 proposed
• Limiting each media to one house recommended
• Bar sought on investor to possess multiple outlets

The Media Reform Commission has sought the formation of a National Media Commission to ensure freedom and accountability.

In its report submitted to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus today, it also recommended two new laws to protect the rights of journalists and shield them from all kinds of harassment, threats and attacks stemming from conducting their duties.

According to the report, the National Media Commission will be formed with a total of nine members, including a chairman.

Among these members, at least three including the chairman and a female member will work round the clock, while the other members will work without any salaries, the report said.

Among the members, at least four have to be women and one has to be from the ethnic minority communities, the report added.

The chairman will be the chief executive of the commission, the report further said.

About the aim and the role of the commission, the report said the commission's first priority will be to ensure the independence and quality of print, electronic, online media and news agencies.

The commission will ensure the independence of journalists, along with making sure the quality and working environment of the media are upheld, the report said.

According to the report, another role of the commission will be to devise policies and regulations relating to the good conduct and behaviour, complaint resolution management and self-regulation of print, electronic and online media and news agencies.

According to sub-section (1) under Chapter 3 of the report, the commission will assist in creating an acceptable code of conduct for the owners, editors, journalists, staff, workers and other related people of the print, electronic and online media and news agencies.

The commission will also take steps against any individual or media organisation, either through taking complaints into cognisance or taking initiatives on its own to carry out investigations.

Law recommendations

The media reform commission proposed amendments to some laws in their report, chiefly the criminal libel laws, the Cyber Security Act and the Official Secrets Act 1923.

About the criminal libel laws, the report says all the sections of these laws, including sections 499, 500, 501 and 502 of the Bangladesh Penal Code 1860 and Section 29 of the Cyber Security Act 2023 should be abolished.

The reform commission recommended that the libel issue can be handed over to the National Media Commission, says the report.

The report termed sections 99(a) and 99(b) of the Criminal Act 1898, which gives power to the government to seize and ban a newspaper, as contrary to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and recommended its abolition.

The report also said the sections of the Cyber Security Act about which journalists, rights workers, lawyers and other stakeholders have concerns should be dealt with.   

It also recommended amending Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, while adding a legal protection system to the Act for investigative journalism relating to public interest.

It also proposed the unification of the PIB and NIMCO to strengthen professional training and research.

It further recommended bringing the BTV, Betar and BSS under one roof to create a strong public broadcasting service.

Among other proposals were setting entry-level journalists' pay to equivalent that of entry-level government gazetted officers, transparency in ownership and investors, limiting one media to each house and diffusing ownership.