Editorial Desk :
In yet another move to tighten its grip on mass media, the government has decided to amend the Press Council Act, 1974, to incorporate some stringent provisions in the law. Provisions in the draft amendment include suspension of newspapers’ declarations and journalists’ accreditation cards for publishing false, instigating, slanderous and anti-state reports. Suspension of government ads and duty free import of newsprint for similar offence is also in the draft, as per a report of a local daily.
Under the existing law, the Press Council can only warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, the news agency or a journalist, as the case may be. But the proposed amendment drafted by the Council will suggest punishment also, including fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, for publishing reports that hurt the interests of the country or instigate chaos and destroy religious harmony, official sources said.
The amendment will also propose taking mandatory certificate from the Press Council for doing journalism. Persons willing to take up journalism will have to
take exams while those already in the profession will collect certificates from the Council through their editors, senior officials of the Council commented. Contacted, the concerned official said the proposals would be placed at the next meeting of the Press Council that would decide on the matter. Nine of the 14-member Council will be from among publishers, owners, editors and journalist leaders.
No journalist anywhere claim to be above law. That means the media shall not be subjected to special laws as because the media represents the voice of the people. The print and electronic media shall be under the same laws as the people are. What is a truthful criticism of the government is not for the government to decide. The government has the right to get its version of truth published. Like the government in a democracy the free media also is accountable to the people.
The media is power so is the government. Special regulations are acceptable for protecting the people against abuse of the power by the media. That is what has been done in England. The regulations made there are for protecting privacy of the people. The provisions in the draft amendment would make the media people in constant fear of writing anything remotely critical of the government.
What the government is making clear is that democracy is not the system they are ready to tolerate. The suppression of the press is really suppression of the people. So there is nothing to be surprised about the amendments going to be introduced to the existing press law.
Even a dictator has to know how to run a government. The present government does not have the ability to manage a dictatorship. It is not easy for a dictator to control every aspect of life in a state. That also needs competence of different kind. Relying only on the corrupt and opportunist ones who have no competence or dedication cannot be good for the dictatorship. Dictatorship is a ruthless power struggle among the ruling class itself as well as outside against the people. Police power alone cannot be enough for continuing in power. Suppression of truth will not be enough to conceal the facts of failure.
Our advice is do not listen to the retired bureaucrats who relish the role of running the government from behind or leading from behind.
The people of Bangladesh have struggled all along for their democratic rights and mere ruthlessness of dictatorship will not make them all meek and submissive.
The all-wise advisers are just paving the way to anarchy and bloodshed. Some leftist elements are taking advantage of a failed and frustrated government to allure those in power to go for dictatorship in the hope of surviving in power. Having no honesty to face the people the government thought it worth trying. The leadership not being political it does not know the political way out.
Our anxiety is that the failed government will remain a failed government under a dictatorship also. But there will be more crime and violence in public life.
The communist dictatorships are fading away in communist countries. In our country, the government is controlled by retired bureaucrats and they are capitalists no doubt. Dictatorship attracts them to enjoy the benefits of state power. They will not be supporting the communist kind of dictatorship, because they have to protect the wealth they have amassed.
So there is irreconcilable conflict and contradiction within the present government. The adventurism of the few with dictatorship game will have no smooth sailing in Bangladesh.
It is for the journalists, in the first place, to choose whether they want to remain journalists or they should be happy to function as political activists of those in power. It will be a tragic loss to see journalists giving up journalism to be with dictatorship.
But we have faith that controlling media will not be easy. Our journalists will not go for it second time, not having forgotten the experience of the first time.
We shall urge the politicians on the government to return to the democratic way. Win or lose there is safety in democracy.
In yet another move to tighten its grip on mass media, the government has decided to amend the Press Council Act, 1974, to incorporate some stringent provisions in the law. Provisions in the draft amendment include suspension of newspapers’ declarations and journalists’ accreditation cards for publishing false, instigating, slanderous and anti-state reports. Suspension of government ads and duty free import of newsprint for similar offence is also in the draft, as per a report of a local daily.
Under the existing law, the Press Council can only warn, admonish or censure the newspaper, the news agency or a journalist, as the case may be. But the proposed amendment drafted by the Council will suggest punishment also, including fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, for publishing reports that hurt the interests of the country or instigate chaos and destroy religious harmony, official sources said.
The amendment will also propose taking mandatory certificate from the Press Council for doing journalism. Persons willing to take up journalism will have to
take exams while those already in the profession will collect certificates from the Council through their editors, senior officials of the Council commented. Contacted, the concerned official said the proposals would be placed at the next meeting of the Press Council that would decide on the matter. Nine of the 14-member Council will be from among publishers, owners, editors and journalist leaders.
No journalist anywhere claim to be above law. That means the media shall not be subjected to special laws as because the media represents the voice of the people. The print and electronic media shall be under the same laws as the people are. What is a truthful criticism of the government is not for the government to decide. The government has the right to get its version of truth published. Like the government in a democracy the free media also is accountable to the people.
The media is power so is the government. Special regulations are acceptable for protecting the people against abuse of the power by the media. That is what has been done in England. The regulations made there are for protecting privacy of the people. The provisions in the draft amendment would make the media people in constant fear of writing anything remotely critical of the government.
What the government is making clear is that democracy is not the system they are ready to tolerate. The suppression of the press is really suppression of the people. So there is nothing to be surprised about the amendments going to be introduced to the existing press law.
Even a dictator has to know how to run a government. The present government does not have the ability to manage a dictatorship. It is not easy for a dictator to control every aspect of life in a state. That also needs competence of different kind. Relying only on the corrupt and opportunist ones who have no competence or dedication cannot be good for the dictatorship. Dictatorship is a ruthless power struggle among the ruling class itself as well as outside against the people. Police power alone cannot be enough for continuing in power. Suppression of truth will not be enough to conceal the facts of failure.
Our advice is do not listen to the retired bureaucrats who relish the role of running the government from behind or leading from behind.
The people of Bangladesh have struggled all along for their democratic rights and mere ruthlessness of dictatorship will not make them all meek and submissive.
The all-wise advisers are just paving the way to anarchy and bloodshed. Some leftist elements are taking advantage of a failed and frustrated government to allure those in power to go for dictatorship in the hope of surviving in power. Having no honesty to face the people the government thought it worth trying. The leadership not being political it does not know the political way out.
Our anxiety is that the failed government will remain a failed government under a dictatorship also. But there will be more crime and violence in public life.
The communist dictatorships are fading away in communist countries. In our country, the government is controlled by retired bureaucrats and they are capitalists no doubt. Dictatorship attracts them to enjoy the benefits of state power. They will not be supporting the communist kind of dictatorship, because they have to protect the wealth they have amassed.
So there is irreconcilable conflict and contradiction within the present government. The adventurism of the few with dictatorship game will have no smooth sailing in Bangladesh.
It is for the journalists, in the first place, to choose whether they want to remain journalists or they should be happy to function as political activists of those in power. It will be a tragic loss to see journalists giving up journalism to be with dictatorship.
But we have faith that controlling media will not be easy. Our journalists will not go for it second time, not having forgotten the experience of the first time.
We shall urge the politicians on the government to return to the democratic way. Win or lose there is safety in democracy.
