It goes against charter, RTI
Some sections of the newly formulated National Broadcast Policy conflict with the constitution, democratic norms, human rights and the Right to Information Act, Transparency International Bangladesh said yesterday.
Alleging that the policy has some provisions intended to control the electronic media through curbing its freedom of expression, the anti-graft watchdog also demanded that the policy be amended to address the concerns of stakeholders and media people.
It called for the formation of an independent and neutral broadcasting commission of international standard immediately to oversee the implementation of the policy.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman made the observations and suggestions at a press conference at a city hotel a week after the government published a gazette notification on the policy despite widespread criticism by media outlets, rights groups and political parties.
Referring to a provision in the policy, which restricts broadcast of any anti-state and anti-public interest statement, TIB said that in the absence of a clear explanation the government or any special quarter might misuse it. They would be able to take action against any media outlet, on various pretexts.
The provision that the information ministry will make final decisions on contents to be aired until a broadcast law and commission are formed has raised enormous concerns, it added.
Though the policy has positive suggestions, such as the stress on women, children and education policies being pursued, TIB Chairperson Sultana Kamal said, some sections were there which posed serious challenges for the media.
Self-censorship tendency will grow among media people, thus giving rise to a culture of impunity among government officials and so people's distrust of government institutions will get stronger.
“The policy is unfit for the 21st century,” said the TIB chairperson, terming it repressive.
Such a policy should have been formed through a broader consultative process, said Sultana Kamal, a former adviser to the caretaker government.
Presenting his keynote paper, TIB Director (Outreach and Communication) Rezwan-Ul-Alam said the formation and activities of the independent commission would have to be specified by a broadcast law. The commission should be free of political as well as business and commercial interference or influence.
Public servants, politicians, elected representatives, government officials having retired less than three years ago, and people having conflict of interest should not be members of the commission, he added.
To make the commission accountable to people, public participation in the commission must be ensured, TIB says, suggesting that the commission must be economically independent.
The anti-graft watchdog also said advertisements should be kept out of the broadcasting policy and a separate advertisement policy could be formed in consultation with the stakeholders concerned.
The cabinet approved the policy on August 4, giving much scope to the government to misuse it in the name of maintaining standards in news, programmes and advertisements in the electronic media.
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