‘Policy to control, suppress broadcast’

The BNP has alleged that the new national broadcast policy is an undemocratic exercise to stifle criticism and suppress freedom of speech.

At a press conference on Tuesday BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyen Khan said, “The illegal government is taking away freedom of speech through this broadcast policy.”

“The broadcast policy that the illegal cabinet has approved is for all practical purposes a broadcast control and suppression policy,” he said.

Another standing committee member MK Anwar said the policy would be scraped if BNP comes to power.

“We will scrap that policy and restore freedom of speech,” he said.

Cabinet approved a broadcast policy for television and radio on Monday.

The policy requires the formation of an independent broadcast commission, but until that is formed the information ministry will carry out its responsibilities.

“People have doubts about the independent broadcast commission within the framework of this so-called broadcast policy,” Moyen Khan said.

“This commission will be a government stooge. It has been given unlimited power and authority to formulate policy and control the media. This will become a dangerous weapon to turn the media into propaganda machinery for the government,” he said.

He claimed the private media would be under complete government control once this policy is is enforced.

“It is taking away the freedom of expression, news and the freedom of journalists.”

Moyen Khan also criticised the conditions placed in the policy on TV licence renewal and getting new licences.

“The policy dictates that agencies that are already broadcasting have to renew their licences. This means they won’t get their licences if they’re not subservient to the government,” he said.

This particular rule, however, is not present in the approved policy, although it was included in the draft policy.

Moyen Khan also criticised what he said was the policy’s ban on broadcasting material that instigates, encourages or sympathises with breaking the law, political revolt, anarchy and violent scenes.

He said these rules may be misused to no end.

“The policy has put a ban on broadcasting views and statements of political parties, which in fact is a ban on covering the opposition’s programmes and press conferences,” he said.

These rules, too, are not present in the approved policy.

The former information minister said the rule banning news which might tarnish the image of law-enforcing agencies and armed forces would encourage heinous crimes like extrajudicial murder and abduction.

“This will further endanger public safety and the various forces will lose their accountability and transparency,” he said.