Govt to form advisory committee for media commission
Several important policy decisions were also taken at the meeting, including steps to make the Press Council more independent, effective and stronger.
The government has decided to form an advisory committee to facilitate the formation of a media commission, leaders of the Editors' Council said after a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today (17 May).
The decision came during a meeting between the Prime Minister and leaders of the Editors' Council at the Cabinet Division's Public Administration conference room at the Secretariat.
Speaking to reporters after the one-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting, Editors' Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir said they had a detailed discussion with the Prime Minister on the existing media environment and laws affecting the sector.
He said they informed him about the undemocratic aspects within the existing laws and regulations related to the media and agreed that many of those issues need to be reviewed.
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"We have agreed to form a consultative committee comprising all relevant stakeholders to establish a democratic media regime in Bangladesh. The committee will work throughout June and prepare a final report sometime in July, based on which we will formulate a democratic media law," the New Age Editor said.
Nurul Kabir said the Editors' Council also discussed ways to overcome various problems and unhealthy practices in the media sector.
"We assured the government that as long as it behaves democratically, the editors will remain engaged with them," he said adding that the government welcomed the proposal.
Nurul Kabir said misinformation and disinformation on social media and other platforms are harming all sections of society, including journalists.
"We want to work together to remove the barriers that stand in the way of building credibility, trust and public confidence in the media," he said.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam told reporters that they handed over a list to the Prime Minister.
"We informed him that around 282 journalists are facing different kinds of cases, and among them, 94 have been made accused in murder cases. We submitted the list to the Prime Minister. I would not say the list is fully complete; there may still be omissions. But we prepared it with sincere efforts," he said.
Mahfuz Anam said the Prime Minister accepted the list and asked the Information Minister to look into the matter and take necessary initiatives.
"We strongly said that filing murder and other cases against journalists is not good for the environment of a democratic country. It is also not good for the image of the government," he said.
Asked what the Prime Minister said on the issue, he replied, "He took the matter very sincerely and said they would examine it. They are interested in addressing the issue."
Editors' Council leaders said the advisory committee would consult stakeholders.
They said discussions at the meeting also covered strengthening the Press Council, withdrawal of cases filed against journalists, clearing outstanding advertisement dues of newspapers, updating the existing conditions for newspaper declarations, media freedom, journalists' professional safety and various challenges and prospects of the newspaper industry.
Several important policy decisions were also taken at the meeting, including steps to make the Press Council more independent, effective and stronger.
Leaders of the Editors' Council thanked the Prime Minister and said journalists did not faced any obstruction in carrying out their professional duties during the government's first three months in office.
The Prime Minister later hosted a lunch for the journalists.
After the meeting, members of the Editors' Council took a group photograph with him.
Editors' Council President and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, General Secretary and Banik Barta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud, The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman, Manabzamin Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Financial Express Editor Shamsul Huq Zahid, Inqilab Editor AMM Bahauddin, Suprobhat Bangladesh Editor Rusho Mahmud and Karatoa Editor Mozammel Haque attended the meeting.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, State Minister Yasser Khan Choudhury and Prime Minister's Information Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman were among the attendees.
