The government is not controlling any media outlet, and the media are enjoying more freedom than at any time in the past, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury told Parliament on Wednesday.
“Following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s instructions, we do not want to control the media in any way, and we are not doing so,” he said, while replying to a supplementary question from National Citizen Party (NCP) lawmaker Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6) during the question-answer session in Parliament.
The state minister responded to the questions in the absence of Information and Broadcasting Minister Andaleeve Rahman in the House.
He said the media are independent and it is entirely up to any media outlet to decide which news they will upload, remove, publish or not publish. “The Bangladesh government does not interfere in this matter,” he said.
“If a media outlet realises after publishing a report that the information is incorrect or that the report should not have been published, it can remove the report. We do not interfere in such matters. We believe in press freedom, and that is why we will not interfere,” Yasser said.
Earlier, in his supplementary question, Hannan Masud alleged that some news reports critical of the government or its ministers have been removed from media outlets or have become inaccessible following publication.
He said the removal of the news reports has raised questions in the public mind about whether the government is stifling freedom of expression.
The lawmaker sought an explanation from the information and broadcasting minister on this matter.
In reply to another supplementary question from independent lawmaker Sultana Jesmen (Women Seat-49), the state minister said many journalists with political ideologies are members of press clubs, which is a normal process.
“Anyone can have their own political views or ideology. But we expect them to play a neutral role in journalism,” he said.
Yasser said the ministry is working to check misinformation, disinformation, untrue and fake information circulating on social media through various fact-checking initiatives.
Responding to a question from ruling party lawmaker SM Jahangir Alam (Dhaka-18), the information and broadcasting minister said the Press Council Act does not provide for trying a person merely on the basis of a complaint. “If a complaint is proved, the Press Council can only issue a warning, reprimand or censure,” he said.
He also said online newspapers and journalists do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Press Council Act.
Responding to a question from BNP lawmaker Joynal Abedin (Feni-2), the minister said Bangladesh ranked 152nd in the international press freedom index, while India ranked 157th and Pakistan 153rd.
In response to a question from Khilafat Majlis lawmaker Mohammed Abul Hasan (Sylhet-5), he said 39 of the 56 approved private television channels are currently operating in the country.
Of the 28 approved FM radio stations, 21 are currently broadcasting, the minister said, adding that there are currently 3,393 registered newspapers in the country.