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Download PDF The interim government is going to award autonomy to state-run BTV and Bangladesh Betar to make them more competitive, educative and entertaining for the people at large, said information Adviser Barrister Mainul Hosein yesterday.
The government would also explore various aspects of opening up terrestrial frequencies for private television channels, the adviser added.
“Success and future of BTV and Betar lie in freedom and autonomy similar to that of BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation],” Mainul said at a launching ceremony of final report on ‘Media in development: Linkages between Socio-Economic Development and Diversified Media in Bangladesh’ conducted by Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI).
Farooq Sobhan, president of BEI, and Shahab Enam Khan, lecturer of Jahangirnagar University, prepared the report. The report said key constraint to the growth of media landscape in Bangladesh is the regulatory policies set for the broadcast media.
The adviser in his speech further said although Bangladesh is currently under a “state of emergency”, the government is keen to uphold the process of freedom of press for liberal broadcasting. “No abuse is more reprehensive than the abuse of the media freedom. At the same time, media personnel should also realise that no freedom can survive in the absence of responsible exercise of such freedom.”
Speakers at the discussion session stressed the need for establishing a permanent and independent “National Broadcasting Commission” comprising key stakeholders to regulate the broadcast media while many suggested renaming the commission.
“The National Broadcasting Commission should be renamed and it should assert the freedom of all sorts of media,” said Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, editor of The Bangladesh Observer.
Saiful Bari, chief adviser of ATN Bangla, said freedom must be enjoyed with responsibility and the media is no exception.
The discussants suggested that terrestrial broadcast frequencies should be licensed for private use to help generation of revenues for the government, maximum use of idle frequencies, maximum geographic access for both public and private sectors and ensuring access to the poor.
Amanullah Khan, chairman of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) Ltd, emphasised the need for a self-regulatory body to ensure independence of the media and said, “The ineffective Press Council should be replaced by ‘Press Complaint Council’.”
Shujauddin Ahmed, former director general of National Institute of Mass Communication (Nimco), emphasised a diversified media. “Indian viewers enjoy a diversified media, which resulted in the growth of numerous media channels. Such diversity is absent in Bangladesh and this issue should be addressed immediately.”
Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, managing editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), said freedom, liberalisation of information, transparency and good governance are inextricably related.
Executive Director of Centre for Development Communication Muhammad Jahangir and editors of various media organisations including newspapers, radios, TV channels as well as representatives from the private sector took part in the discussion chaired by BEI President Farooq Sobhan.
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