Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina asked the Information Ministry to complete formulation of a broadcasting policy soon after consultations with the stakeholders, reports UNB.
"The government has already prepared a draft policy, which the country needs for the electronic media as elsewhere in the world", the PM said in her introductory speech to the high officials of Information Ministry and its affiliated bodies at the Bangladesh Secretariat Sunday.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu and Information Secretary Murtoza Ahmed addressed the meeting.
PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, PMO Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Abul Kalam Azad, senior officials of the ministry and chiefs of different departments under the ministry were also present on the occasion.
Sheikh Hasina said that her government believes in full freedom of the mass media, but "such freedom does not mean publishing or saying anything according to the will of individuals in the mass media."
She said the media should enjoy the freedom through exercising objectivity, constructiveness and thoughtfulness, and it is the duty of the Information Ministry to monitor this.
The PM suggested preparing the broadcasting contents suitable to the children and elderly people as well as programmes which could be enjoyed by all of the family members together.
She said the main objective of the government is to reach the fruits of the independence to the doorsteps of the common people and continued democratic rule can help fulfil the expectations of the people. "The Information Ministry can play an important role in this regard."
Sheikh Hasina directed the Information Ministry to be equipped with modern technology so that accurate and latest information on the country's development and advancement could be reached to all at home and abroad.
Referring to the rapid change in information and communications technology, she said the government and private media should go ahead in keeping with the pace of change.
Mentioning the necessity of Bangladesh Betar, the PM said this state-owned organisation is playing vital role in reaching the news and information of development and other informative programmes to the people, especially the rural people.
