Barishal Correspondent :
Bangladesh Press Council Chairman Justice Nizamul Haque Nasim in a workshop styled as ‘Preventing Yellow Journalism and Pactising Objective Journalism’ said that graduation or five years professional experience would be minimum educational qualification for professional journalism.
A law on this prepared by the Ministry of Information and would be placed before the parliament soon and enacted soon, the press council chairman added. He also said that such a matter is being discussed by press council about permission taking prior to arrest journalists. He further said that we are working on increasing the powers of the Press Council so that the matter of penalties like jail, fine is included in the new draft law.
Because without this empowerment, no one would be interested in coming to the Press Council. While anyone can go to a conventional court in criminal matters, why would they go to Press Council, if the Press Council has nothing but reprimands, press council chairman opined.
Addressing as the special guest at the workshop, Additional Secretary Shyamal Chandra Karmakar said journalism is a great profession for educated experienced person.
But some are corrupting it. Now only cards and booms are needed to be a journalist. There are 6/7 Press Clubs or other journalist organizations in a single upazila, if one group goes to one of those, the other group goes to other. So one cannot do anything and must follow the rules.
Deputy Director of Local Government Gautam Baroi presided over the workshop attended by 55 journalists working in print and electronic media in Barishal district and received certificates.