What Noab told the Media Reform Commission?

Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed said that newspapers, television, radio and online news portals related to the media should be free from political influence and work in the interest of the people. He said this at a meeting of the Media Reform Commission with the president and members of the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at the Information Building on Circuit House Road in the capital on Tuesday.

The commission chief called for opinions on how to use the media in the interest of the people against the backdrop of the anger that has arisen due to the failure and controversial role of the media in the past movement.

At the meeting, Daily Star editor and publisher Mahfuz Anam said that we do not have an environment for media freedom due to the legal framework and environment of the media.

Prothom Alo publisher Matiur Rahman said that newspapers are no longer newspapers around the world. In the era of digital media, printed newspapers have already become a sick industry. Circulation and advertising revenue have decreased drastically due to the Corona pandemic. The government of the past 15 years and before that has tried to control newspapers. He expressed his opinion that no previous government could provide freedom to the press. Journalists could not work independently. However, the previous government saw the press as an enemy.

Shahidullah Khan, publisher of New Age, said that it is necessary to think about whether there is a need to keep the media registration system for newspapers. The Press Council needs to be modernized and it should be freed from the control of the executive branch.

Hanif Mahmud, publisher of Dainik Banik Barta, said that it is necessary to ensure that the Media Reform Commission cannot be used by any other vested group. Due to being under the control of the government, many editors are now victims of cases, absconding and their accreditation cards have been canceled.

Altamas Kabir, publisher of Dainik Sangbad, said that independent journalism is possible despite political bias and it must be ensured.

Masrur Reza, publisher of Dainik Financial Herald, said that there has been misuse of power in the management of publishing and granting permission to newspapers. He urged the commission to make specific recommendations to stop this in the future.

Noab President Samakal Publisher AK Azad said, “As publishers, we have also had to face threats and losses. He said, while incentives were given to all industrial institutions during the Corona period, no incentives were given to newspapers. He expressed hope that the commission would make specific recommendations for the independence of editors.

The commission chief said that the commission has no room for being influenced by any vested interest. The commission will prepare its recommendations based on the specific opinions of the stakeholders. The commission will also take the opinions of all quarters in formulating the autonomy policies of state institutions Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

The meeting of the Media Reform Commission was attended by members of the commission, Professor Geetiara Nasreen, Shamsul Haque Zahid, Akhtar Hossain Khan, Syed Abdal Ahmed, Fahim Ahmed, Jimmy Amir, Mostafa Sabuj, Titu Dutta Gupta, Abdullah Al Mamun and Begum Kamrunnesa Hasan.

Source: BSS

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