A parliamentary watchdog on Sunday consented in principle to the contents of the first ever guidelines for the private TV and radio stations, though in August 2011 it objected to the proposed national broadcast policy for some of the “controversial” sections.
The parliamentary standing committee on information ministry, at its meeting, criticised TV talk-show participants for “not giving their opinions” on the policy, and decided on inviting them to a future meeting for getting their feedback on the “almost final” policy, before the ministry implemented it ahead of the general elections.
According to the broadcast policy, the TV channels should not air any programme the authorities consider “ridiculing or defaming or attacking to any religion and generating hate for any faiths.” The policy will also ban the leak of any “secret” information, which may “jeopardise state security.”
After implementation, the TV stations will no longer be able to broadcast programmes ridiculing or disrespecting the members of the armed forces or law enforcement agencies or the persons tasked to award punishment to the public servants.
“The standing committee has okayed the national broadcast policy in principle and decided to invite the stakeholders to its next meeting for their opinion before its finalisation,” Hasanul Haq Inu, the information minister and committee member, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting at the parliament building.
He said implementation of the policy would ensure discipline in the broadcast industry.
Shahriar Alam, a committee member, told the Dhaka Tribune:”The talk-show participants did not submit their opinion on the national broadcast policy uploaded to the ministry website for people’s feedback. They want to criticise the government in the TV channels, refraining from submitting their opinion to the government.”
He said the standing committee meeting would take place within seven days after the Eid vacation, and the ministry would be asked to embody the suggestions of the stakeholders in the policy to the possible extent.
At least 18 private TV channels are operating in Bangladesh, with more channels in the pipeline. At least eight private radio stations and 14 community radiosalso operate across Bangladesh.
The ruling party leaders and activists, following its debacle in the five city corporation polls, alleged to the prime minister that the late-night TV talk-show was one of the causes behind the defeats of the Awami League-backed candidates.
Awami League MP Mustaque Ahmed Ruhi on Thursday asked parliament whether the government would regulate the talk-show in the TV stations. In reply, Inu told the House that the talk-show would come into a discipline after the implementation of the national broadcast policy.
The policy will authorise the government to form a commission to settle the people’s complaints on telecast of “unjust” and “unfair” items and the programmes that lead to “unwarranted infringement of privacy.”
The chief of the commission would be selected by a search committee formed by the information ministry. The President will appoint the chairman and the required number of members.
On receiving complaints, the commission will serve show-cause notice to the alleged TV stations for any violation of the broadcast policy and send the report to the government for necessary actions.
The commission can even recommend the government to cancel the telecast licenses of any TV stations for specific violations of the law.The commission will also be the right body to decide on any issue not covered by the national broadcast policy.
Until the formation of the commission, the government will work on behalf of the commission, and its decision will prevail for any disagreement between the advertisers and TV stations.
