'Broadcast policy to control media'

The national broadcast policy will become a tool for the government to control the news media, speakers at a discussion have said.

The Editor's Council organised a discussion on the policy on Saturday which was attended by journalists from print and electronic media among others.

Some discussants conceded that a policy framework was needed to prevent 'bad journalism' practised in the media.

The broadcast policy has been criticised by a large part of the media since its introduction earlier this month. The information minister has tried to assure that the policy is not meant to control the media.

Shariful Islam Bhuiyan, a member of the policy's drafting committee, also said the policy was not meant to control but to help the development of the media.

Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam said the policy was a "novel attempt to disarm" journalists.

"Government says we proposed the policy, which is true. But we had demanded that an independent commission should formulate it after holding discussions with all stakeholders," he said.

"We never gave consent to a policy being drafted by bureaucrats."

Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said the policy would simply add to the many shackles that already bind the media.

"The media is already controlled by laws, advertisers and owners. This new policy is another fetter. It will destroy free thought," he said.

Channel i Director Shykh Seraj, who is also the secretary of the Association of TV Channel Owners, said the policy wanted the media to "swim with their hands while their feet are tied".

"We wanted a policy for certain reasons, for example we wanted it so that any unscrupulous person cannot get a licence to launch a TV channel," Seraj said.

Baishakhi TV Chief Editor and president of a faction of Federal Union of Journalists Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul spoke about the importance of the policy.

"Many are criticising the policy without understanding it. It has positive sides too," he said.

"We have bad journalism in the country too and we need the policy to stop that."

However, he pointed out some faults in the policy. "We wanted job security, investors' security, licence regulations — none of these are in the policy," he said.

Shawkat Mahmud, president of the other faction of Federal Union of Journalists, opposed him, saying, "People know who this policy seeks to protect."

"This policy is meant for controlling the media," he said.

Policy drafting committee member Shariful Islam Bhuiyan said the government was committed to the freedom of press.

"This policy was introduced to help the media grow. It also aims to create awareness about the misuse of media freedom," he said.

Barrister Amir-ul Islam, who is also a former Awami League MP, disagreed with him.

"The policy has brought the news media under strict regulations and it will undermine the freedom of the press," he said.

"You must find out whether the people who formulated this policy are real well-wishers of the government," he said.

Editors Council President and Daily Samakal Editor Golam Sarwar, columnist Syed Abul Maksud, Executive Director of Transparency International, Bangladesh Iftekharuzzaman, Ekattor TV CEO Mozammel Babu, Maasranga TV CEO Fahim Munaim, ATN News's Head of News Munni Saha and ATN Bangla's Head of News JE Mamun also spoke on the occasion.

Daily Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, Daily Kaler Kantha Editor Imdadul Haque Milon and Daily New Age Editor Nurul Kabir were also present among others.