No govt can afford to restrict freedom of media: TIB

UNB, Dhaka :
Terming the National Broadcast Policy-2014 ‘eventually a unilateral exercise’ , the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said unilateral imposition of policies and actions to control the media can only be counterproductive.
“….what could be a good example of government’s engagement with stakeholders has turned into little more than eyewash and eventually a unilateral exercise,” TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman told UNB in an interview.
The TIB chief, who was at the forefront of civil society leaders invited to participate in the process behind formulating the policy, said no government can afford to restrict media freedom,
not to speak of doing away with it (media freedom).
“The only type of regime that finds it convenient to go that way is military or military-backed or other types of authoritarian government,” he said.
Iftekharuzzaman observed that the government will serve its own cause if it holds a series of genuine consultations with stakeholders to review the Broadcast Policy and be guided by positive and constructive ideas and recommendations before it takes any decision or action affecting the media and broadcast sector.
He said, there are some good aspects to the policy which should be commended. “But the unfortunate part of the experience is that our governments often fail to live up to their own standards.”
The drafting process was participatory, involving a committee that included media representatives. Some scope was also created for consultation with civil society and other stakeholders.
“But sadly it seems in retrospect that was only to an extent that served parochial interest of some architects of the policy,” Iftekharuzzaman said.
Looking into the provisions of the policy, the TIB chief said it is appalling for instance that a provision has been kept in the policy that can be easily interpreted to practically proscribe critical views against armed forces and law enforcement agencies in the pretext of protecting image.
“This is against the spirit of democracy. Nobody or no institution can be above criticism in democracy,” he said.
The TIB chief said the policy also contains many provisions that are subject to such scope and risk of motivated, subjective and arbitrary interpretations that the document can at best be called as a lost opportunity.
“The basic Constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression can be severely curtailed. The policy appears to be a brainchild of those in the government who are intolerant to media freedom and critical views,” he observed.
On formation of a broadcast commission, he said the selection process should be absolutely transparent though the experience of Commissions in the country is far from satisfactory.