Rejoinder, our reply
The Press Council has protested a news item published in The Daily Star on September 24 headlined, “Govt seeks to certify journalists: aims to amend the Press Council Act”.
In a rejoinder, its Secretary Shyamol Chandra Karmakar said the Council examined its record and found that the government had never made any proposal for bringing journalists under certification, nor did it ask the Council to make a move to that effect.
The Council also did not recommend in the draft amendment the suspension of newspaper declaration, the secretary said, adding that the news item sent a wrong message to journalists as well as the readers of The Daily Star.
Our Reply
In our report we said the newly appointed Council Chairman Justice Mamtaj Uddin Ahmed at a meeting with Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu in mid-August underscored the need for certification of journalists.
Contacted, he had told this newspaper that mandatory certification was a demand of journalists and that it would “enhance their dignity”.
In our report, we quoted Shyamol Chandra who described the move to certify journalists as “a good step of the government”. He also said there was no alternative to obtaining certificates to enhance the quality of mass media.
Senior officials of the Press Council and the information ministry said they were considering bringing some stringent provisions in the law, including suspension of newspaper declaration for publishing news that goes against the interests of the country and instigates violence.
Under the current law, the Council cannot take any punitive action for such reports.
In our report, we also quoted the Council chairman who said that the previous Council members made many proposals, including those for fine and punishment, and the present Council just sent to the information ministry.
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