FROM PAGE 12

MRDI, a non-profit organisation working to strengthen journalism and promote access to information, organised the event with support from International Media Support under the project “Supporting Media During Transition Period in Bangladesh”.

Its Executive Director Hasibur Rahman moderated the discussion, attended by editors, newsroom leaders, media professionals and academics.

Presenting a legal review comparingthedraft of theNational Media Commission and Broadcasting Commission Ordinances with the now-defunct media reform commission’s recommendations, Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain, also honorary executive director of BLAST, a leading legal aid organisation, said the regulatory framework was weak and fragmented.

Mentioning that different institutions had overlapping powers in some areas while gaps remained elsewhere, she said the Press Council was “almost non-functional”, and thedraft ordinancesshould avoid overlapping powers between it and the proposed media commission.

“The driving point of the entire recommendation and the draft ordinances is that the state has to move neutrally,” she said, adding that the central aim should be freedom from state control.

Sara said the commission should have financial autonomy, its own secretariat and diverse representation.

She cautioned against turning qualification requirements for journalists into a licensing system. Noting that international practices do not support commissions deciding who can or cannot work as a journalist, she said, “The focus should instead be on training, accreditation and professional development.”

Gitiara Nasreen, professor at Dhaka University’s Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said the sector was facing a question of survival.

“The commission should not be treated as a cure for every problem,” she said, adding that it should remain connected with stakeholders and work on policy, training, codes of conduct, misinformation, disinformation and media literacy.

The Daily Star’s Consulting Editor Kamal Ahmed, who headed the media reform commission, welcomed the government’s move to establish an independent commission, but said “the government should not start from zero”.

“There is already a prepared proposal before them. Let them enrich that proposal and start discussions on that basis.”

He said many people wanted to launch media outlets without the capacity to pay salaries or run proper newsrooms. “If this chaotic situation continues, no commission will be able to work.”

Kamal added that the reform commission had recommended disclosure of investment sources, annual audited accounts, stronger circulation verification and TRP reforms.

“If we cannot move forward with transparency and accountability, the media has no future.”

Dhaka Tribune Editor Reaz Ahmed said a unified body covering print, broadcast and online media would be preferable. He added that existing institutions had not been held accountable.

Samakal Editor Shahed Muhammad Ali said self-regulation was essential, as the media must first address its own weaknesses. “Self-regulation is very important. We must first fix ourselves .... Copyright violations had become a serious concern, as reports were copied almost instantly.”

He also called for credible circulation figures, saying the issue was directly linked to business, including government and private advertisements.

Shafiqul Alam, editor of Waadaa, said the proposed law was timely and necessary, but questioned whether self-regulation alone would be sufficient. “I don’t think self-regulation works in Bangladesh at all.”

He said people harmed by false and targeted reports also needed protection.

Lazzat Enab Mahsi, deputy editor of Prothom Alo, said, “Merely adding the word ‘independent’ would not make the commission independent.”

Shakhawat Liton, executive editor of The Business Standard, said institutional independence remained the biggest challenge. “We have freedom of expression; what we need is freedom after expression.”

Zahid Newaz Khan, chief executive editor of Channel i, said journalism loses meaning when it serves only owners, groups or political forces.

Jimi Amir, project manager and coordinator at DW Akademie, said journalists needed an effective avenue to seek remedy when they faced problems in newsrooms. “There must be a gateway.”

Mostofa Mamun, editor of Agamir Shomoy, said the biggest crisis was the lack of a professional and objective mindset, while Mostafa Kamal, editor of Khoborer Kagoj, said partisanship had damaged journalism and media institutions.

Mobinul Islam Mobin, editor of Gramer Kagoj, said financial sustainability was essential for quality journalism outside Dhaka.

Abdus Salam, secretary general of the Association of Television Channel Owners, said private television channels were struggling with falling advertisement rates, rising costs and a lack of revenue sharing.

Shamsul Jahid, editor of The Financial Express; Shahriar Karim, executive editor of Dainik Sangbad; Pantho Rahman, former president of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh; and Anwarul Kabir Nantu, acting editor of Dainik Loksomaj, Jashore, also spoke, among others.