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Private member's resolution for autonomous status rejected

Heated discussion on role of Radio and Television

By Staff Correspondent
The Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) on Thursday rejected a private membei’s resolution for transforming Radio Bangladesh and Bangladesh Television into autonomous organisations free from government control.
Earlier, the Treasury Bench requested the resolution's mover Rashed Khan Menon to withdraw it since the Government was examining how Radio and Television could be turned into truly neutral bodies and It would place a bill In parliament in this regard.
Sixteen members took part in the four-and-a-half-hour stormy discussion on the bill.
At times Speaker Abdur Rahman Biswas found it difficult to control the House as comments from the participants were protested by shouts and counter shouts.
State Minister of Information Nurul Huda said the Government welcomed the resolution in principle. But the task of turning Radio and Television Into autonomous bodies was not easy and needed careful scrutiny.
He Invited shouts from the Awami League members when he said the BNP government had to shoulder the responsibility of turning all black laws white. Television was made a government oranisaUon by the
•>v«rnment in 1972- Now it has become the responsibility of BNP to make
Nurul Huda was Interrupted on a number of occasions, the Speaker expunged a word used by him and asked him to conclude his statement He aald. within one month of coming to power the BNP Government had already made the print media free by repealing some laws It has also withdrawn control exercised during the last nine years on dissemination of news, he said.
He said the Government would soon constitute a committee with members of parliament and representatives of different sections of people for suggesting measures to turn the electronic media into autonomous and responsible organisations
Deputy Leader of the House Prof Badruddoza Chowdhury said Radio and Television should project the Ideals, hopes and aspirations of the majority of the people They cannot be made captive In the hands of a group of people. Freedom granted to these bodies should not be misused, he said.
He said even though the government was not opposed to the resolution the question of turning Radio and Television into autonomous bodies needed thorough examination since many corporations and autonomous bodies had failed to live upto the people s expectations.
The Leader of Opposition Sheikh Haslna said the three major political alliances had made commitment through the November 19 Joint Declaration to turn Radio and Television into autonomous organisations. Failure to fulfil that commitment would be a betrayal to the nation, she said
She complained that even though the autocratic regime was overthrown in December, Radio and Television give one the Impression that there has been no change at all. Radio and Television are not projecting Bangalee culture and tradition on which our national identity is based. Radio and Television should uphold the spirit of the War of Liberation, she added.
Abdus Samad Azad, the Deputy Leader of Opposition, urged the Treasury Bench to unanimously adopt the resolu-
Uon because none was against It In principle.
Jatiya Party leader Moudud Ahmed said the problems of Radio and Television could not be solved by mere granting them autonomy, but by creating competition allowing private television channels and radio stations. Radio and Television in Bangladesh have two inherent weaknesses:
a) they are owned by the government and b) they enjoy monopoly. he said.
Matlur Rahman Nizami, leader of the Jamaat-elslami group in the House, supported the demand for autonomy for Radio and Television but said they should also be made re sponsible otherwise, autonomy would be misused A healthy democratic atmosphere is the precondition to make the in stitutions democratic, he said.
Nizami said the Sammllita Sangskritik Jote did not play a neutral role during the election. After election they ere ated obstacles to dissemination of news of certain parties. He urged the JS members to keep in mind the people's mandate expressed through the elecUon before taking any decision.
Rashed Khan Menon said, in the Joint Declaration, the three alliances had made a commitment to turn Radio and Television into autonomous organisations With the elections over and a democratic government established, it is time to Implement that decision, he said
He said that autocratic control on Radio and Television during the last nine years had made people rely on foreign media for news. There has also developed a group of conspire tors In these organisations who are threatening to take action against these Radio and TV workers who is participated in the mass movement. These elements are again gaining control now, he cautioned.
The resolution was however rejected by a voice vote.
Others who took part in the discussion on the resolution are Begum Sajeda Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman. Totael Ahmed of AL. Shahjahan Omar and Dr. Abdul Latif of BNP, Salahuddin ' Quader Chowdhury of National Democratic Party and , Shahjahan SlraJ of JSD (Siraj). '
The parliament is adjourned ! till 3 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday).