Media Reform Commission Stresses Policy Changes for Independent Journalism

Editors and publishers of registered online news platforms in Bangladesh have emphasized the need for policy amendments to ensure a free, strong, and objective media landscape. Their recommendations include revising government advertisement policies for online media, abolishing the annual renewal process for online news portals, formulating job protection policies for online journalists, and establishing an independent broadcasting commission in line with the Broadcast Act and Online Media Policy.

These recommendations were presented at a meeting of the Media Reform Commission held on Sunday, February 2, at the Information Building on Circuit House Road in the capital. Kamal Ahmed, head of the Media Reform Commission, assured journalists that the proposed reforms would be taken into consideration for implementation.

The meeting, presided over by Kamal Ahmed, was attended by commission members, including Professor Gitiara Nasreen from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, among others.

Speakers at the meeting included former editor of The New Nation and President of the Bangladesh Newspaper Foundation (BDSF), Mostafa Kamal Majumdar; Editor of The Financial Express, Shamsul Haque Zahid; Editor of Banglanews, Lutfar Rahman Himel; Executive Editor Touhidul Islam Mintu; Acting Editor K. M. Ziaul Haque; Dhaka Mail’s Head of News, Harun Jamil; News Editor of BDNews, Zahidul Kabir; Editor and Publisher of Dhaka News, Latiful Bari Hamim; Editor of AB News, Shaheen Chowdhury; and Editor of Dhaka Watch, Sakhawat Sojib, among others.

Following a change in government, the interim administration formed the Media Reform Commission three months ago with the objective of proposing necessary reforms to ensure a free, strong, and objective press in the country.