Independent media commission to be established

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said, “We have not been able to build the media of Bangladesh as a strong institution.

For that, the previous governments should definitely bear the responsibility.”
He also stressed the need for establishing an independent and responsible media commission based on an objective perspective.

The Information Minister made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘The Failure of Media to Combat Fascism’ and commemorating the ‘Black Day of Newspaper Closures under the BAKSAL Regime’ organised by the National Editors Council (NEC) at the
DFP Conference Room of the Information Building at Circuit House Road in the capital on Monday.

He said, “The more perfect the mirror in which we see our faces, the clearer our faces will be. The media is the mirror of society and the state. The media must be perfect.”

“The media must also fulfill its responsibility to develop and maintain the media in a perfect manner. As a newspaper reader, I feel that all the initiatives in this regard in the past were somewhat partial.

Since it was never fully integrated and structured, that is why we were not able to develop the media in Bangladesh as a strong institution. Of course, the governments of the past should bear the responsibility for this,” he said.

The minister also said “An independent and responsible media commission cannot be formed in the future unless we stand on an objective perspective”.

In this context, he said, “A press commission was formed under the leadership of Ataur Rahman Khan, but the report and recommendations of that commission never saw the light of day. However, keeping that in mind, I am calling for the formation of this media commission under the leadership of a former learned judge”.

The minister further said, “This commission may include representatives from the Ministry of Information and Law, the National Editors Council, various trade unions of newspapers, and the National Press Club.

This commission will identify the problems prevailing in every field of media and suggest solutions.”
“In addition to ensuring the freedom of the media, it will also determine the boundaries of its responsibility. This commission will formulate policies, laws and frameworks.

On the one hand, it will show the development of both the professional and commercial aspects of the media, on the other hand, it will advance ethical journalism, and it will also stop the path of misguidance and misreporting of the media and journalists.”

Citing examples from developed countries, the Information Minister said the policies and regulations of the UK’s Office of Communications, the United Statres’ Federal Communications Cxommission and the European Union’s Commission are followed by all concerned.

The key-note paper was presented by Maruf Kamal Khan, editor of Pratidiner Bangladesh.

Referring to the freedom of the press as the main tool of democracy, he said, “After the formation of BAKSAL, the declaration of all newspapers in the country was canceled on June 16, 1975, leaving only four government newspapers, which was a black chapter in the field of journalism.

Later, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman restored the freedom of the press and multi-party democracy.”

In his presidential speech, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh, said, “Real freedom of the media means being able to express one’s opinion. If someone disagrees, they will protest through writing, but their voices cannot be silenced by any force.”

He said, “There is no room for compromise or unity with those who worked as allies of the previous fascist government and tried to justify genocide like the July massacre in the media. Rather, their trial must be ensured.”

The seminar, moderated by Daily Jugantor Editor Poet Abdul Hai Shikder, was also addressed, among others, by The New Nation Editor Mokarram Hossain, Daily Naya Diganta Editor Salahuddin Muhammad Babar, President of the National Press Club and Editor of Kaler Kantho Poet Hasan Hafiz, former Press Secretary of the Interim Government’s Chief Adviser Shafiqul Alam, President of the Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFUJ) Obaidur Rahman Shaheen, Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, Dhaka Union of Journalists President (DUJ) Md Shahidul Islam, Dhaka Reporters’ Unity President Abu Saleh Akon, and Acting General Secretary Didarul Alam Didar.