Information Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has said June 16 can be observed not only as a "black day" but also as a "Media Freedom Day", marking the closure of newspapers in 1975.
He made the remarks at a seminar titled “Media’s failure to confront fascism” held at the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) conference room in the capital on Monday, organised by the National Editors Council.
Swapon said the media’s voice was “silenced” in 1975, and the day can also be used to uphold press freedom. “June 16 can be established as Bangladesh’s Media Freedom Day. There can be no better response than strengthening democratic values against authoritarianism,” he said.
The minister said an initiative is underway to form an independent media commission, which may have quasi-judicial powers to act as a regulatory and oversight body for the sector.
Referring to international practices, he mentioned institutions such as the UK’s Ofcom and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying such bodies ensure balance between regulation and media freedom through stakeholder participation.
He also stressed the need for accountability alongside press freedom, saying a coordinated effort involving media owners, editors and journalists is necessary to prevent disorder in the sector.
Swapon added that healthy democratic practice depends on the acceptance of differing opinions, arguing that debate and dissent should be seen as part of democratic progress rather than division.
He called on media stakeholders to cooperate with the government’s initiative to establish an independent media commission.
