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Electronic Media

PM wants the policy soon

UNB, Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the information ministry to complete the formulation of a broadcasting policy soon after consultation with stakeholders.
"The government has already prepared a draft policy (in this connection)," she said in her introductory speech to high officials of the ministry and its affiliated bodies at the secretariat.
Hasina said her government believes in full freedom of the mass media, but "such freedom does not mean publishing or saying anything according to the will of individuals in the mass media".
The media should enjoy freedom through exercising objectivity, constructiveness and thoughtfulness, and it is the duty of the ministry to monitor this, she said.
She also suggested preparing broadcasting contents suitable to children and elderly people as well as programmes which could be enjoyed by family members together.
"The information ministry can play an important role in this connection," the premier told the officials.
She directed the ministry to be equipped with modem technology so that accurate and the latest information on development could be made available to all at home and abroad.
Referring to the rapid changes in information and communications technology, she said the government and private media should go ahead by keeping pace with change.
Hasina asked the ministry to prepare broadcast contents in light of the four basic principles of the constitution and make all-out efforts to inspire the new generation with the spirit of the war.
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She said her government had ensured free flow of information through enacting the Right to Information Act. Besides, transparency and accountability - the prerequisite of good governance — have been ensured.
Hasina mentioned that after assuming office in 1996, her government allowed the first private television channel in the country, ensured freedom of the mass media and restored an environment of constructive criticism.
In continuation of that policy, she said the present government in its immediate past term gave licences to 31 private TV channels and 12 FM and 32 community radio stations.
The premier also listed other steps of her government including introduction of journalists' assistance allowance from 2011, announcement of newspapers and film making as industry, and declaration of the eighth wage board for journalists.
But she regretted that "some people want to ignore the principle of democracy and journalism, don't want to abide by the constitution, and instead cooperate with militancy and terrorism, and confuse readers and viewers through a sugar-coated presentation of false information".
Hasina also said her government had ensured a free flow of information and created opportunities of introducing online media.
Terming 'responsible and free mass media' as an indispensable organ of a democratic system, Hasina said the information ministry had started its journey under the government of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman soon after liberation.
"But after the heinous and tragic events of August 1975, the mass media came under state censorship that helped prolong the tenure of illegal and unconstitutional governments," she told the officials.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Information Secretary Murtoza Ahmed, among others, spoke on the occasion as well.