Broadcast policy contradictory to Constitution: TIB

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) sees the newly formulated ‘National Broadcast Policy-2014’ as contradictory to the constitution and also conflicting with the ‘Right to Information (RTI) Act’.
It says that the entire policy is ‘oppressive’ and ‘one sided’, which was formulated in an attempt of controlling the press.
The Berlin-based watchdog made the observations at a press conference at a hotel in the capital city on Thursday, a week after the government published the gazette on the policy despite widespread criticism from various quarters.
Addressing the press conference, Advocate Sultana Kamal, Chairperson of Trustee Board of the TIB, said the broadcast policy is contradictory to the country’s constitution, democratic norms and values, human rights and the Right to Information Act. Terming the policy as a mechanism of the government to control the press, she said, “We have enough reasons to be concerned over the policy. The media can’t operate like this. The policy ensures the government’s control on the media.”
Sultana Kamal, also a former adviser of the Caretaker Government, said that the policy has put the media at risk. The Right to Information Act does not allow getting information on the armed forces, while this policy has embargoed running news on them, she added.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, who also addressed the press conference, said that the broadcast policy would curb freedom of the press. He termed the policy as ‘repressive’ and ‘one-sided’ and also said that the policy is unfit for the 21st century.
Referring to the Articles 5.1.1, 5.1.3, 5.1.5 and 5.1.7 of the policy, he said that the articles are contradictory to the country’s constitution. Echoing the same as Sultna Kamal, the TIB official slammed the provision of keeping the armed forces and law enforcers out of news purview, and said that it would give them impunity against their misdeeds.
Rezwan-ul-Alam, a director of the TIB, read out the keynote paper where he said that the policy is not suitable for any country in this century.
Sultana Kamal said that the broadcast policy would ensure a culture of impunity by keeping the defense force and law enforcers above the law. They will then involve in various types of crimes, including corruption and irregularities, she observed.
The policy restricts airing any programme that ridicules national ideals and objectives, undermines the people, and tarnishes the solidarity of Bangladesh as an independent country.
Referring to this point, the TIB Chairperson said, “Of course, we will not say anything which goes against the nation. But, saying anything against someone belonging to the government means it is against the state as per the policy. That is why we are anxious, as some people will get the opportunity to be exempted from the law.”
The TIB called upon the government to amend the policy. It placed six suggestions in this regard. The suggestions include formation of a neutral and effective broadcast commission, taking opinions of all concerned before the formulation of laws and rules in this regard, stopping all the political influence and administrative intervention during formation the search committee, licensing system has to be freed from political intervention, the code of conduct of journalists has to be implemented by the journalists and professionals in the sector.