The cabinet is likely to finally clear the draft of National Broadcasting Policy, which was prepared to control radios and television channels, that had earlier sent back recommendations for the inclusion of their observations in the draft policy.
Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the policy would be brought into effect with the immediate issuance of a gazette notification after the cabinet clears it today.
The draft policy provides for establishing an “Independent Broadcast Commission” to monitor the activities of the television channels and radios.
The commission would formulate a code of guidance or programme code for the broadcasting institutions and regulatory authority comprising four specific criteria into the code.
Information Joint Secretary (Broadcast) Abul Hossain said they would be preparing a draft ‘Independent Broadcast Commission Act’ to establish the commission once the policy is approved by the cabinet.
Earlier, the cabinet sent the draft policy back, recommending the inclusion of its observations in the policy.
Relevant ministry officials said they had included the observations in the policy. It would ensure accountability and protect the interests of the owners, employees and people.
ASK Statement
The Ain-o-Shalish Kendra (ASK) yesterday expressed deep concerns over the proposed draft of the broadcast policy which might curb the freedom of the mass media.
In an official statement released yesterday, the human rights body also said the new policy, which comes with clauses empowering the Information Ministry to punish any media for unauthorised broadcasting, may hamper the freedom of the media in the country.
The statement also added that Information Ministry had recently taken initiatives to revise “Printing Presses and Publication Act 1973” to gain the power to cancel the publication rights of print and electronic media.