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JS body bats for press freedom

Rejects draft policy for electronic media, asks ministry for modifications in light of constitution, RTI

Rashidul Hasan
A parliamentary body yesterday rejected the draft national broadcasting policy and asked the information ministry to modify it in conformity with the Right to Information Act and freedom of the media guaranteed by the constitution.
The parliamentary standing committee on the information ministry expressed disappointment over the draft policy and
the way the ministry has drafted it.
The House watchdog asked the information secretary to submit the redrafted policy at its next meeting. The committee normally sits once a month.
The committee members at the meeting opined that the policy, prepared by bureaucrats, has failed to ensure freedom of the press, which is guaranteed and protected in our constitution.
“The draft broadcasting policy would not benefit the concerned stakeholders. We have asked the ministry to modify it so that press freedom and freedom of speech are ensured,” Obaidul Quader, chief of the committee, told The Daily Star after the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
“The draft policy has many loopholes and there are many retrogressive ideas in the policy which the committee thinks should be changed,” Quader noted.
Talking to The Daily Star at his parliament office, the Awami League lawmaker said the standing committee members think some sections in the policy are obscure and unclear.
The committee members told the information secretary that the bureaucrats have drafted a retrogressive and outdated national broadcasting policy, Quader said.
“There are some ideas in the proposed policy which are contradictory to the constitution,” he added.
On March 11, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad told reporters that the policy is designed to ensure free flow of information.
But the House watchdog yesterday observed that free flow of information will be obstructed if the draft policy
is accepted without modification.
"The present government believes in freedom of the press, speech and thought,” Quader said, adding, "That's why we have asked the ministry officials to delete all disastrous ideas included in the draft policy.”
The committee has asked the ministry to get public opinion through meetings, symposiums and seminars.
It has also directed the ministry to post the policy online and to discuss it with the private broadcasting organisations and other stakeholders as well. Besides, the committee has suggested the ministry go through broadcasting policies of different democratic countries and BBC before modifying the draft.
The proposed policy seeks to put public figures and political personalities above criticism.
It suggests blocking programmes that might harm our relationship with a “friendly country”.
Stipulating 44 preconditions for broadcasting programmes and 63 preconditions for broadcasting advertisement, the draft says the government will have the power to cancel licence for radio and TV if any of the conditions is violated.
The policy bars private television channels and
radios from broadcasting any programmes making derogatory comments about national figures.
First of its kind in the country, the draft policy also forbids programmes that may pose threat to national security and sovereignty and may seem satirical to national ideology.
Submitted to the standing committee on the information ministry on July 31, it also says the authorities of private television channels and radios will be held responsible if the government finds them airing distorted or irrelevant infor-mation in their programmes, including talk shows.
The policy also discourages character assassination of any person, but his/her activities can be discussed.
The broadcasters must be careful so that they do not broadcast any information regarding army or the government, which may pose threat to national security.
No political propaganda or views of any political party will be allowed to be broadcast, and political figures, foreign diplomats and national heroes cannot be used to promote commercial products.
It also bars the broadcasters from praising or showing sympathy to anyone considered wicked or dishonest.