DHAKA: The broadcast policy was formulated aiming to make the government controversial and the people, who made the policy, are not friends of the government.

Speakers came up with the assertion in a discussion program on the challenges for mass media, organized by Bangladesh Editors’ Council at CIRDAP auditorium in city on Saturday.

Eminent lawyer Barrister Amirul Islam said the government should observe whether the people who are behind in making the broadcast policy are their friends or not.

He said the recent national broadcast policy would hinder the freedom of press and bring the media under strict accountability.

Association of TV Channel Owners general secretary and also Channel-I director, Shykh Seraj said that they did not want the current broadcast policy rather they wished to have a policy where only eligible people will get TV license.

A media friendly broadcast policy is needed, he added.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) president Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul said they wanted four major safeguards in the policy.

The safeguards include security for new comers in journalism, eliminating salary discrimination in TV channels, safety of investors and protection in giving license.

But these things are missing in the much-talked about the broadcast policy, he added.

Bulbul further said that they wanted an independent broadcast commission.

A media person will be chief of the commission instead of anyone from defense forces or bureaucracy, he added.

Editors’ Council general secretary and also ‘The Daily Star’ editor Mahfuz Anam said that they have got a gadget about the newly formulated broadcast policy.

The policy is contradictory to the freedom of mass media, he opined.

He also said that the policy is trying to control online media as well but it is a rapidly growing media.

By quoting section 5:1:4 of the broadcast policy Mahfuz Anam said any “military, non-military and government information” that can threaten the security of the State cannot be broadcast.

We understand the “military” information but why “non-military and government information” cannot be published, he questioned.

It proves that it (the policy) is interference to media, he commented.

According to him, if this broadcast policy is implemented then the viewers of TV channels will divert to foreign media.

Noted journalists, teachers and editors of leading national dailies shared their views on the challenges the mass media facing at the moment as well as the issues arising from the formulation of the broadcast policy.

Editors’ Council president and also Bangla daily Samakal editor Golam Sarwar chaired the program moderated by Bhorer Kagoj editor Shyamal Dutta.

BDST: 2030 HRS, AUG 30, 2014