Prime Minister’s Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman has said that stakeholders have reached consensus on key issues regarding the formation of a national media commission at a high-level workshop held in the capital.
Briefing journalists after the workshop at a city hotel on Thursday, he said participants agreed on two major points- the establishment of an independent media commission in Bangladesh and the use of the Media Reforms Commission report of the interim government as a key reference for future reform initiatives.
Briefing journalists after the workshop at a city hotel on Thursday, he said participants agreed on two major points-the establishment of an independent media commission in Bangladesh and the consideration of the Media Reforms Commission report of the interim government as a key reference for future reform initiatives.
He said discussions were also held on the structure, mandate, and jurisdiction of the proposed commission, and these issues will be further reviewed in subsequent sessions.
Zahed clarified that considering the interim government’s commission report does not mean its full adoption. Rather, he said, the report will be given due importance as it was prepared after extensive consultations with stakeholders.
“We will move forward by giving the report the highest level of consideration,” he said, adding that consensus was reached on this approach during the meeting.
The adviser also said that participants discussed a range of other issues aimed at strengthening media independence and freedom.
Representatives from various media bodies attended the workshop, including the National Editors Council, Editors’ Council, Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), Television Editors Council, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO), National Media Watch Council, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ), Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Broadcast Journalists Centre (BJC), Photo Journalists Association, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust, as well as television owners, editors, media professionals and experts.
