Hold public hearings at grassroots level

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Law Adviser AF Hassan Ariff yesterday urged the media to arrange grassroots-level public hearings so that people who cannot reach local administration for solutions to their problems or place their demands could be heard.

“As a citizen, I would ask you to see whether public hearings can be arranged at grassroots-level for listening to their demands,” the adviser said yesterday addressing a seminar titled “Is Amending the Press Council Act, 1974 a Must to Make the Press Council More Effective?”.

Suggesting such hearings could be organised at local press clubs, Hassan Ariff said he has heard that many people who cannot reach the local administration to talk about their problems contact the local press clubs instead.

Bangladesh Press Council organised the seminar at the Jatiya Press Club on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day yesterday. Justice Kazi Ebadul Hoque, chairman of the council, presided over the programme.

Mizanur Rahman Shelly presented the keynote paper. He suggested updating the Press Council Act, 1974, involving the parliament in the appointment of the chairman of the press council, and appointing the chairman and a member for a three-year term.

He raised a question whether the press council can ensure a responsible role of those involved with newspapers by only warning and censuring them. He placed “equipping the council with more powers” on the table.

The programme saw lively discussion as some of the discussants underscored amending the Press Council Act, 1974 by giving it some “teeth” to punish breach of journalistic ethics while others said they do not want to see yet another regulatory body for journalists and rather want the council to remove obstructions and help journalists perform their jobs better.

The law adviser as the chief guest of the programme underscored the need for public consultations before broadening the jurisdiction of the press council.

“Massive public consultation is required to see if the reach of the Press Council Act needs to be broadened,” he said adding that it should not be seen as the state’s police power and it needs to be seen whether it reflects the people’s hopes and demands.

The law adviser joined others to say that freedom of the press is a must but there should be restraint on its use.

“Journalists’ freedom helps them in their professional work. But, in a democratic society, sense of responsibility is intertwined with freedom,” he said urging journalists to be more responsible and honest.

Delivering the welcome speech, Justice Ebadul said there is a lack of people’s trust on the press council as many think it has failed to fulfil the expectations of the people and the journalists.

He suggested widening the Press Council Act’s jurisdiction to stop activities that go against journalists’ code of conduct.

He said journalists’ track records should be looked into during issuance of accreditation cards. It needs to be considered whether state facilities should be limited or withdrawn altogether for newspapers that publish false and objectionable news hurting the rights of the people or the state.

Stressing the need for implementing existing laws, Jamil Osman, acting information secretary, backed Shelly’s suggestion to involve the parliament in the chairman appointment process and empowering the press council to criticise government activities regarding newspapers.

He said it would be positive for democracy if the council had more power for punitive actions against people who breach journalistic ethics.

However, senior journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul and president of Jatiya Press Club Shawkat Mahmud asked the council to work harder to help the journalists perform their jobs.

“The philosophy behind the formation of the press council was to strengthen newspapers from within. The objective would not be achieved if it becomes another regulatory body,” Bulbul said. He suggested giving the council the power to fine people and issue suo moto.

The Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Amar Desh Editor Amanullah Kair, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamol Dutt, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury of BSS and advocate Abdul Baset Majumder also took part in the discussion.

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