The Broadcast Journalist Centre (BJC) has expressed its disapproval of the government’s “hurried” initiative to enact the proposed Broadcasting Commission Ordinance – 2026 just two weeks before the national election.
While the BJC welcomed the decision to form a commission, the organisation stated that it does not support the rushed process, which provided only four days for public scrutiny while the nation is busy with upcoming polls.
The organisation raised several specific objections, including the use of vague terminology in the draft, such as “anti-public interest,” “discriminatory,” and “threat to national security.”
The BJC warned that such language could allow any critical content to be easily classified as a criminal offence.
Additionally, the draft contains provisions for suspending or cancelling television and radio licences through administrative decisions, which could lead to the closure of media outlets.
There is also significant concern regarding provisions for fining broadcast institutions if they fail to follow government instructions on “national issues” or “public interest,” which the BJC fears could be misused.
The centre argued that several sections of the draft ordinance provide opportunities for the government and the bureaucracy to control and govern broadcast media.
BJC pointed out that the draft lacks measures to ensure good governance or address the long-standing grievances of broadcast journalists regarding salaries, allowances, and fair benefits.
The centre emphasised that in the digital age, broadcasting is an inseparable part of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), telecommunications, and internet governance.
So, the ordinance should encompass critical issues like net neutrality, digital content regulation, and cyber security. BJC noted that the government had taken no effective steps toward forming the commission in the last 18 months.
The organisation suggested it would be more appropriate to leave the enactment of the law to the next elected government to allow for meaningful discussion and the inclusion of stakeholder opinions.
The statement was issued by BJC Chairman Rezwanul Haque and Member Secretary Illius Hossain.
