There will be no more than one media outlet owned by any owner or corpt.house in Bangladesh : MMRC

POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Mar 22, 2025 : A law has been recommended to prevent any owner or corporate organization from having more than one media outlet and to protect journalists. These recommendations were made by handing over the report of the Media Reform Commission to the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, on Saturday.
The head of the commission, Kamal Ahmed, handed over the report to the Chief Advisor at the State Guest House Jamuna. Later, he made these remarks at a press briefing in front of the Jamuna.
At the briefing, Kamal Ahmed said, there is a problem in media ownership. There have been changes in the leadership of many media outlets. But there has been no change in ownership. We have said that cross-ownership should be abolished. The same owner cannot have more than one media outlet. The owner has to choose one. In that case, the ownership of the others should be transferred or merged with the most powerful one. It has also been said that those working in these institutions should not face any problems.
He said, there is such a provision in many countries including the United States that the same person cannot own a television and a newspaper.
The commission chief said, we have tried to find out where the flaws are by reviewing the history of the media. There are various problems in television, newspapers, radio and online, but the problems of journalism are the same everywhere.
Regarding the television application, he said, we are seeing the applications for approval of all television channels, nowhere has the people been mentioned. All of them wanted to highlight the development of the government, promised to show positive news content. We have seen the standards from all over the world. Recommendations have been made accordingly.
Kamal Ahmed said that the autonomy of Bangladesh Television and Betar has been recommended, and said that an independent organization will run these two news media, for which we have talked about forming a broadcasting organization.
Kamal Ahmed said, we have made recommendations regarding the laws and government policies that create obstacles in the way of journalism. It is the responsibility of the state to provide security and protection to journalists. We have proposed to enact a journalist protection law. We have even included a draft ordinance for how the law could be. In the subcontinent, such laws are under consideration in the parliament in Pakistan and India. On the other hand, the European Union has already passed this law. No government or private person can search a journalist’s phone there even if they want to.
He also said that the salary and allowances equivalent to BCS grade 9 have been asked to be kept at the entry level in journalism. This should be implemented throughout the country. There will be a separate allowance for those who live in Dhaka. First, they will have to complete a one-year apprenticeship and then be appointed as permanent journalists. And the case regarding the wage board is ongoing, in this situation, how to work on it has also been said.
Kamal Ahmed said that journalists cannot be allowed to work as advertising agents. The job of a journalist is to do journalism.
The head of the Media Reform Commission highlighted the huge problems in the DFP media list. He said that according to the government’s estimates, 15.1 million newspapers have been printed in Dhaka today. But in reality, it will not be more than 1 million. So why did this estimate of 14.1 million newspapers come about? These manipulations have been done to get government advertisements.
He also said that there are more than 600 newspapers in the list of government DFP, but 52 newspapers are sold in Dhaka. Two organizations work in newspaper distribution in Dhaka. This information can be easily found by looking at their accounts.
Kamal Ahmed also mentioned the picture of widespread irregularities in the case of television TRP. He said that 8,000 devices are to be installed across the country to see how much the TRP is. 200 devices have been installed. At the time of writing this report, another 100 have been installed. These must be installed and all of them must be verifiable. Verification cannot be done only by the government or the television, there must also be an opportunity for verification by a third party. And that third party will be civil society.
The briefing said that the entire 180 pages, including the draft of the ordinance, will be made available online for everyone. Anyone who wants to can see what recommendations have been made. It has been recommended to withdraw corporate tax from media organizations.
Kamal Ahmed said that if corporate tax is withdrawn from media organizations, the operating costs will be greatly reduced. This will create a healthy competition in the media industry, which will play a role in the survival of the media. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor, was present at the briefing.