Demand for repeal of undemocratic section of law for freedom of media
Photo Collected
Leaders of newspaper editors’ association Adyar Parishad held a meeting with Prime Minister Tariq Rahman. In the meeting, the editorial board demanded to cancel and change the undemocratic sections of the law to ensure the freedom of the media.
Apart from this, various issues including strengthening the press council, increasing the responsibility of journalists, fact check system to prevent disinformation, more discussions before forming media commission, harassment cases against journalists and ensuring media freedom and responsible journalism environment were discussed in the meeting.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The meeting was held in the cabinet department of the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday afternoon. Later, the content of the meeting was highlighted in the press release of the editorial board. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, President of the Editorial Board and New Age Editor Nurul Kabir and Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam spoke to the journalists about this.
In the meeting, the editorial board said that the media laws are very old and create obstacles for the freedom of the press. They also question the media image of the country in the outside world. In particular, the publishers have to declare and sign in the form ‘B’ of the declaration of publication of the newspaper and say, “I further declare that I will refrain from publishing any objectionable or contrary to the interests of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in my newspaper and will be obliged to abide by all the rules of the Printing and Publication (Declaration and Registration) Act, 1973.” This clause is in conflict with the constitution and has an undemocratic character. The editorial board demanded the cancellation of the clause.
বিজ্ঞাপন
According to the related sources, in the meeting, emphasis has been placed on strengthening the Press Council on behalf of the editors. Emphasis is also placed on ensuring accountability of editors and journalists. The Prime Minister was informed that the Editor Council is working on this matter.
The meeting also discussed about prevention of disinformation. It is said by the editors that the responsibility of mainstream newspapers is the most in this regard. For this, newspapers should have a ‘fact check’ system. Some newspapers have already started it.
Apart from this, it has been said by the editors that there should be more discussion about the media commission. Before setting up a committee on this matter an outline requirement is mentioned.
The editorial board said that the issue of media commission and strengthening the press council was raised by the board. The Prime Minister directed the Information Minister to complete the examination in this regard by the month of June and take initiatives accordingly so that the government can take a visible step by July.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a self-regulating structure of the media. In view of this, the editorial board has announced to take the initiative to formulate and adopt a ‘code of conduct’ for journalists within the month of July.
Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam told reporters, “We have given a list to the Prime Minister. I said there, various cases have been filed against 282 journalists. 94 of them are accused of murder case. This list is not exhaustive and may be incomplete. But we tried sincerely, the Prime Minister accepted it and told the Information Minister, they will give importance to this matter.”
Highlighting the issue of harassment cases against journalists, some members of the editorial board said in the meeting that in the interest of justice, it is necessary to ensure proper investigation and legal process of complaints against journalists. But harassing and targeted cases are not acceptable in any way. They said that if there is a specific and evidence-based complaint against a journalist, it must be settled through the existing law and transparent judicial process.
The Prime Minister has assured the Secretary Council that he will discuss the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Prime Minister also said that the government is not the regulator of the media; Rather wants to work as a helper. He believes that a strong media is an essential part of the state and his government will work earnestly in this regard.
After the meeting, information minister Zahir Uddin Swapan, when asked about the case by the journalists, told the mediapersons that if the leaders of the editors’ council presented the matter to the prime minister, the prime minister agreed with their sentiments and ordered to take necessary measures. Apart from this, the editorial board congratulated the Prime Minister as there was no interference from the government so far.
Talking about the content of the discussion, President of the Editorial Board Nurul Kabir told the reporters that they have informed the Prime Minister about the undemocratic parts of the law. A number of issues need to be reviewed, which the Prime Minister has agreed to. An all-stakeholder consultative committee for a democratic ‘media regime’ will work throughout June and prepare a final report in July. In light of that, they agreed to formulate a pro-democracy law.
The editor of New Age emphasized on how to get out of the other errors in the practice. He said, as long as the government behaves democratically, the editors will be engaged with them.
In the meeting, general secretary of the council and editor of Banik Barta, Dewan Hanif Mahmud, chief editor of Manbazmin magazine Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Pratham Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Financial Express editor Shamsul Haque Zahid, Inkilab editor AMM Bahauddin, Kartowa editor Mozammel were also present on behalf of the editors council. Huq, Suprabhat Bangladesh Editor Russo Mahmood.
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Information Affairs Adviser Zaheed Ur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli and Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon were also present in the meeting. Later, the Prime Minister attended lunch with the leaders of the Editorial Board.
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