Bangladesh鈥檚 interim government information and broadcasting adviser Md Nahid Islam on Monday said that a media reform commission would be formed in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
鈥楾his matter is being discussed formally and informally with the concerned media persons,鈥� he said while addressing an open discussion on 鈥楻eforms of Media: Why? How?鈥� organised by Media Support Network at the National Press Club in Dhaka.
Mentioning that the salaries of journalists should be ensured as per the wage board, the advisor said that there was no scope to treat journalists like slaves.
About the professionalism of journalists, Nahid Islam, also the adviser of posts, telecommunications and information technology ministry, said, 'All the issues regarding why journalists can鈥檛 work with professionalism are being reviewed.鈥�
He, however, observed that media literacy has not developed in the country, saying the culture of professionalism in the media is absent in Bangladesh.
鈥楢 required measure would be taken on the basis of consensus following discussion with the stakeholders (of media),鈥� he said, adding that journalists鈥� organisations have an important role to play in this regard.
Referring to the recent student-led mass uprising, the advisor said that this revolution was a big case study for the media.
鈥楾he role of the media must be closely reviewed,鈥� he said.
He noted that many journalists used to collect news at the field level during the movement, but that news wouldn鈥檛 be published due to media house policy.
Nahid Islam stated that electronic media didn鈥檛 publish any information in favour of the movement during the student-led mass uprising, saying the country鈥檚 people knew what the electronic media aired at that time.
鈥楾here was no institutional resistance of journalists in this revolution,鈥� he observed.
He also opined that the professionalism of journalists was an important foundation for the free media, stressing the need to attract the youth in this profession alongside ensuring the professionalism of journalists during the days ahead.
The information and broadcasting adviser also laid emphasis on the reform of the state-run media.
Chief adviser鈥檚 press secretary Shafiqul Alam, director general of Press Institute Bangladesh Faruk Wasif and Dhaka University鈥檚 mass communication and journalism department teacher Saiful Alam Chowdhury, among others, also spoke.
Journalist Jimmy Amir presented the keynote speech at the event.