Rajshahi: Media Reform Commission (MRC) Chief Kamal Ahmed today emphasized that the primary goal of the commission is to establish an independent, strong, and objective media. He expressed these views during an interaction with journalists from print and electronic media in the Rajshahi division at the conference room of the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Kamal Ahmed stated that the commission is striving to meet public expectations by addressing the anger and trust crisis that emerged in the media under the rule of the Awami League government, which he described as fascist, due to the challenges in conducting impartial and independent journalism.
He highlighted the importance of identifying media weaknesses to align with public expectations and mentioned that they are conducting public opinion surveys to gather insights from field-level journalists, editors, and readers. This, he said, is part of their effort to pinpoint the weaknesses.
Kamal Ahmed also mentioned that they are seeking input from newspaper owners and other stakeholders in the media industry to understand these weaknesses better. He emphasized adherence to the code of conduct in journalism, asserting that following these principles can facilitate objective and impartial reporting and help overcome other challenges.
On the topic of transparency, he advocated for newspaper and television owners to disclose their annual financial statements, questioning why they should be exempt from accountability. He affirmed the commission’s commitment to ensuring accountability in this area as well.
Addressing the issue of support for families of journalists who died while on duty, Kamal Ahmed acknowledged the significance of compensation for the deceased and injured. He suggested that they be provided assistance through the July Foundation and urged the government to prioritize this matter.
He also raised the issue of withdrawing cases against journalists, stressing the need to address the harassment, imprisonment, and unemployment faced by journalists.
The meeting was attended by MRC members Professor Dr. Gitiara Nasreen, Shamsul Haque Zahid, Kamrunnesa Hasan, Jimmy Amir, Deputy Information Officer of Rajshahi Regional Information Office Md. Touhiduzzaman, Deputy Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Rajshahi Mohammad Jahangir Alam, along with editors of various daily and online newspapers, publishers, and journalist leaders from different districts.