Country’ eminent citizens including intellectuals, lawyers, journalist leaders and media personalities have rejected the new national broadcast policy, saying the government with it tries to control the media and obstruct the free flow of information.Terming the policy as a threat for the environment of responsible journalism, they said the government’s latest steps were not only contradictory to the freedom of the press, but also conflicting with the foundations of democracy.They came with the observations at a discussion meeting titled “challenges before mass media” organized by Editors’ Council, the platform of editors of country’s leading newspapers, at CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Saturday. Golam Sarwar, editor of Samakal and president of Editors’ Council presided over the meeting.”The broadcast policy is a danger…. We are not under Marshall Law; there is no emergency in the country. Than why such prohibitions, why such bans in the name of policy? They [government] are against the freedom of media. So, they are trying to ‘throttle the media’ introducing the broadcast policy,” Professor emeritus of Dhaka University Serajul Islam Chowdhury said. Expressing same view, Barrister Amirul Islam said, “Those who have encouraged the government to do such a policy, in fact they embarrassed the government. I think, it was not possible for others to disgrace the government in such way. So, the government high-ups must find out that who have made this policy…and for whom interest. Do they really want government’s benefit?” Executive Director of TIB Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, “There are many negative provisions in the policy. It is also contradictory to right to information act and information and protection of privacy act. We are anxious seeing this policy.”President of BFUJ [AL-led faction] and CEO of Baishahkhi TV Manjurul Ahsaan Bulbul, who was involved in drafting the policy, also strongly objected to the provision, which said editorial policy of broadcast media should get approval of the proposed broadcast commission. “There are so many ‘no’ in the article 3, 4, and 5 of the policy. None can accept this policy,” he said putting emphasis on introducing a media-friendly policy.President of BFUJ [BNP-led faction] and editor of Weekly Economic Times Shaukat Mahmood harshly criticized the government for introducing the broadcast policy. He also demanded its immediate cancellation.Rejecting the policy, Golam Sarwar in his speech said, “What we really need is a ‘code of conduct’, not a policy like that. We categorically reject the policy. It must also prepare by the men of media.” Earlier, Mahfuz Anam, editor of Daily Star and general secretary of the Editors’ Council read out a written speech expressing his discontent. “Though we are the people of media, we are protesting the new broadcast policy. Because, we think it will create obstruction to the freedom of journalism,” he said.Raising question about its necessity, he said, “This type of policy is usually introduced in undemocratic countries. Such effort curtails everything; as it can’t give anything in broad space. We think, the government has taken effort to chain the media by this policy.” ATCO general secretary and director of channel-I Shaikh Siraj and professor of Dhaka University Dr Golam Mohammad took part in the discussion as panel speakers.Besides, News Today editor Riazuddin Ahmed, CEO and chief editor of Maasranga TV Fahim Munayem, general secretary of National Press Club Syed Abdal Ahmed, CEO of 71′ TV Mozammel Babu, ATN Bangla head of news JI Mamun, Head of news of ATN news Munni Saha and DU Prof. Safiqul Islam Bhuiyan joined the discussion as gust speakers. Editor of Bhorer Kagoj Shyamol Dutt moderated the discussion where, among others, Matiur Rahman, Moazzem Hossain, Nurul Kabir, Shahjahan Sarder, Alamgir Hossain, Saiful Alam and Amir Hossain were present.
