Staff Reporter :
Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam on Monday said that he was hopeful about announcing the formation of the Media Reform Commission by next week.
He said: “I am optimistic the interim government will be able to announce the formation of the Media Reform Commission by the next week once Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus returns home after attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, USA.”
“The interim government is moving forward with the plan to bring reforms in the in the media and the Reform Commission will be announced with appropriate persons”, he said while addressing a view-exchange meeting with publishers, editors, senior journalists, and other stakeholders of different newspapers, organized by Department of Films and Publication (DFP) on Circuit House Road in capital Dhaka.
He added: “Of course, we want full freedom for the media. But I want to leave a question with you all: to what extent should this freedom be allowed? We know freedom means freedom, and it shouldn’t be controlled. But can we allow the media to use this freedom to promote fascists? Can we allow them to serve the purposes of fascists under the guise of freedom? I leave that question with you”.
The adviser further added: “We want to ensure all freedoms, but with the priority and standards set by our country and this July student- mass uprising.”
About the newspapers’ outstanding bills, Nahid said the government is trying to digitalize the bill payment system to give hassle-free service.
The countrymen, he said, became dependent on newspapers to get actual information during the July uprising. “So, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to them,” he said, adding that some newspapers were in favour of the fascist government. The persons who played a provocative role during the July uprising will have to be brought to book.”
The daily Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Jugantar editor Saiful Alam, the daily Kaler Kantha editor Hasan Hafiz spoke at the view-exchange meeting, among others.
Additional Information Secretary (in-charge) Md Nazrul Islam attended the meeting as the special guest while DFP Director General Abul Kalam Mohammad Shamsuddin was in the chair.