A round table discussion on the recently approved National Broadcast Policy 2014 at a hotel in the capital yesterday triggered fear and hope among the participants regarding the policy’s effects on broadcast media.
Titled “Broadcasting Policy 2014: Challenges and Way Forward,” the discussion was attended by members of the policy formulating committee, journalists, teachers, a lawyer and other professionals.
Organised by Bangladesh Copyright and IP Forum (BCIPF), the Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune, in association with Kazi Farms Limited, the event was moderated by Robaet Ferdous, associate professor at the department of mass communication and journalism of Dhaka University.
Some speakers, including professional journalists, expressed their fear of the broadcast media being controlled by the policy, while some others criticised parts of it but expressed hopes that the government would incorporate suggestions to make it better.
Muhammad Jahangir, a columnist and former official of the Press Institute of Bangladesh, claimed the policy was confusing and aimed to control the media, oppressing the freedom of expression.
He said it was not a mere policy, but a reflection of a long-term goal of the incumbent government to shield its misdeeds as it had faced criticism at home and abroad regarding the January 5 election, and the media had exposed its faults.
“The government might have thought oppressing the freedom of expression, in whatever way they could, would help it to stay in power for five years,” he said.
Probhash Amin, associate head of news at ATN News, vehemently opposed the policy, saying he would not accept any broadcast policy formulated by the government.
“I rejected the policy at the beginning, and I am rejecting it now, again,” he said.
However, he said he liked the content of the policy.
Samia Zaman, chief executive officer of Ekattor TV, expressed concern over whether the broadcast commission would be able to work independently and whether the committee would be formed with acceptable people.
She said before formulating the law, every stakeholder related to this policy should be consulted.
Abu Jafar Md Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, chairman of the department of television and film studies at Dhaka University, said the document’s language created some confusion, but it could be modified.
Abul Mansur Ahmed, professor at the journalism department, said formulating a broadcast policy was a positive thing, and there was room for changes and amendments in the policy.
In reply to all the remarks, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said the ministry did not want to act as police, and it had formulated the policy to hand over its responsibility to the future broadcast commission.
He said the policy would be a document of principles as guidelines to formulate the law.
Inu, whose office is responsible for formulating the policy, assured that the policy was not for controlling the media, but for its betterment.
He also assured that all confusions over the policy would be gone when the law was formulated in line with the policy.
“We can improve it further when we formulate the law in this regard,” he said, urging all political parties, especially the BNP, to give their suggestions for improvement.
He also said there would be scope to correct the language where necessary.
Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, said the information minister’s explanation that the policy was a guideline and there was room for improvement, cleared up much of the confusion.
“We appreciate the goodwill of the minister and will be with him to formulate a good law,” he said.
When asked whether he would create a similar policy and commission to take steps if any politician provided false information while addressing political rallies or meetings, the minister replied: “You (media) will broadcast those false statements and also will mention that they lied.”
Shahriar Karim, executive editor of the Dhaka Tribune, gave the welcome speech, while Kazi Zahin Hasan, director of Kazi Farms Ltd and chairman of BCIPF, gave the vote of thanks, hoping that the policy would uphold people’s freedom of expression and improve broadcast media.
Among others, ABM Hamidul Mishbah, founder of BCIPF, and Abu Naser Rajib, teacher at the California State University, spoke at the event.