Online newspapers will also come under Press Council: Information Minister
In addition to strengthening the press council as per the need of the times, the Information minister and Broadcasting minister and the joint general secretary of Awami League Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that the online newspapers will also come under it.
The information minister said that the members of the council have finalized a draft of the law after several years of discussions with the stakeholders in order to bring online newspapers and online versions of newspapers under the purview and to strengthen the press council.
The Minister opined so while speaking in a discussion meeting held at the Press Council Auditorium. Earlier, he hoisted the national flag along with the national anthem at the council premises.
While speaking as the chief guest, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting said, 'Most of the members of the Press Council are journalists, leaders of journalist organizations and editors of newspapers. They are the ones who finalized it. But when the draft was finalized and headed for legislation, opposition to it began. Laws are amended in all countries, but in Bangladesh, when the law is brought up to date, one side stands against it. I hope real journalists will come forward in this matter.
I have asked the Chairman of the Press Council to sit with those who are opposing. Discussion will resolve misunderstandings.'
Hashan Mahmud said, 'Now Facebook page is opened and it is also promoted as mass media. Everyone involved introduced themselves as journalists again. In the villages now, there are mushrooming online portals and Facebook pages with a camera and they call it a media. This is the reality. As a result, there is a lot of confusion about what the real media is and who the journalists are. These need to be addressed.
'Real journalists are never associated with this. They also want to get rid of them. This is also the demand of journalist organizations. I agree with your demand. For this, it is necessary to prepare a list of journalists. It is recommended that the Press Council should do this with the journalists' organizations.
Information and Broadcasting Minister said, 'Our government is a media friendly government. The degree of media freedom enjoyed in Bangladesh is an example for many developing countries. We believe that the freedom and development of the press is essential to sustain the democratic system and advance the state. The government is working with that goal.'
On the occasion of Bangladesh Press Council Day, the meeting was held at Topkhana of the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
The Press Council Chairman Justice Nizamul Haque presided over the meeting while the Press Council members Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and MG Kibria Chowdhury addressed the meeting.
Mentioning the historical background of the Press Council Dr. Hasan said, 'The father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, wanted to establish the foundation of a democratic society, based on justice and logic in the independent state of Bangladesh under his leadership. For that reason, he formed this Press Council with the aim of ensuring the accountability of newspapers and at the same time the aggrieved persons can approach a judicial board to present their grievances.'
Highlighting the multi-dimensionality of media over time, the Information Minister said, 'The Press Council has played an important role in connecting the people and readers with newspapers in the country during its 49-year journey.
"Today the media is not limited to print media only. When the Press Council was formed there was no online media and not so many newspapers. As a result, the Press Council cannot play a role other than the newspaper as per its law.'
