Information
and Broadcasting Adviser Md Nahid Islam yesterday (Monday, September 23) said
that the interim government is hopeful about declaring the formation of the
mass media reform commission by the next week.
"I
am optimistic that we will be able to declare the formation of the mass media
reform commission by the next week. The declaration is expected to come after
the Chief Adviser's returns home from the UNGA in New York," he said.
The
adviser was addressing a view-exchange meeting with publishers, editors and
other stakeholders of different newspapers, organized by Department of Films
and Publication (DFP) at Tathya Bhaban.
Additional
Information Secretary (in-charge) Md Nazrul Islam addressed the meeting as
special guest with DFP Director General Abul Kalam Mohammad Shamsuddin in the
chair.
Nahid
said everyone wants freedom of mass media. "But, I want to ask a question
. . . is there any boundary of the press freedom? We want to ensure all freedom
attaching priority to the interest of the country and the student-people
uprising," he added.
The
adviser extended thanks to the newspaper publishers, editors and reporters for
properly highlighting the incidents during the July upsurge.
The
countrymen, he said, became depended on newspapers to get actual information
during the students-mass upsurge. "So, I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to them," he said, adding that but some newspapers were in favour
of the fascist government. The persons who played provocative role during the
July upsurge will have to be brought to book."
About
the newspapers' outstanding bills, Nahid said the government is trying to
digitalize the bill payment system to give hassle-free service.
The
daily Jugantar editor Saiful Alam, the daily Manabzamin editor Matiur Rahman
Chowdhury, the daily Kaler Kantha editor Hasan Hafiz, the Daily Sun editor
Rezaul Karim, the daily Prothom Alo executive editor Sajjad Sharif, the daily
Naya Diganta executive editor Salauddin Babor, the Daily Star's head of
operation Mizanur Rahman, the daily Ajker Pathrika managing editor Kamrul
Hasan, the daily Ittefaq news editor Ashok Kumar Singha, the daily Sangram
managing editor Nurunnabi, the daily Sangbad chief reporter Shahriar Karim, the
daily Inqilab executive editor Fahima Bahauddin Shama and the daily Azadi
managing editor Wahid Malek, among others, spoke at the meeting.