A discussion on advertisement was held in the city with a call to form an independent commission to look into the commercials in a bid to keep norms and values of the society intact.
The programme also focused on the media activities so that they could not pose a threat to the children and the women in the society.
Article 19, Bangladesh and South Asia hosted the programme titled “Draft Broadcasting Policy 2013” at a city hotel.
The discussants urged all to be careful about the issues of advertisement on the media and said it was a high time a commission be formed for censorship.
In his address, Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder advocated for an umbrella policy which would look into all forms of the media advertisements.
Article 19 Director Tahmina Rahman emphasised forming an independent broadcast committee which won’t be politically biased.
Describing the importance of the draft broadcasting policy Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, chief executive officer and editor-in-chief of Boishakhai Television, said the information commission could work like an umbrella. He also requested the authorities concerned not to change the members of the commission according to the change of the ruling party.
Shamsuddin Haidar Dalim, chief of News Production & Training, Maasranga TV, claimed that the channels were “captive” to the advertising companies. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said, “A definite law will be followed to form the commission.” He added that private television channel policy was underway and the draft broadcasting policy would be placed in the cabinet next month.
Among others, Transparency International (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Joint Secretary to the Information Ministry Md Abul Hossain, Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra General Secretary Parveen Sultana Jhuma and Associate Professor Dr Md Mahbubur Rahman of the Department of Law, Dhaka University, were present at the programme.
