DISCUSSION OF EDITORS' COUNCIL & NOAB

Govt to form ‘credible’ media commission: Information minister

FE REPORT | Published: May 03, 2026 22:35:23

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said the government is planning to form an "acceptable" media commission, following consultations among the stakeholders.
He said it at a discussion, organised jointly by the Editors' Council and the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Sunday, marking the World Press Freedom Day 2026.
The minister said a consultative committee would be formed as the first step towards establishing a credible and effective media commission.
"We want to build an acceptable commission that can function and lead the media sector efficiently."
He noted that an integrated regulatory structure is needed to address the challenges of both digital platforms and traditional media. The government is considering a policy package to address the media-related issues.
Highlighting the growing influence of global technology companies, Mr. Swapon said regulating the digital platforms at the national level is a complex issue. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) currently has limited power to restrict streaming services.
He also pointed to structural weaknesses within the media industry, including concerns over the methodology used to determine television rating points (TRP) and newspaper circulation figures. Such benchmarks are often based on limited data that may not reflect reality.
"Many of the contents in the mainstream media are opinion-based and lack data, which can create problems," he added.
The discussion was chaired by Mr. Nurul Kabir, President of the Editors' Council and Editor of New Age; and moderated by Mr. Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Editor of Bonik Barta. The event began with a minute of silence in memory of deceased journalists.
Among the speakers were Manab Jamin Editor and President of NOAB Mr. Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Daily Star Editor Mr. Mahfuz Anam, The Financial Express Editor and CEO Mr. Shamsul Huq Zahid, and former chief of Media Reform Commission (MRC) Mr. Kamal Ahmed.
Mr. Mahfuz Anam said two separate codes of conduct have been planned - one for the newspaper owners and another for the editors. Drawing an analogy, he said the owners are investors, while the editors are responsible for running editorial operations.
He also stressed the need for the media to focus on inequality and climate risks, noting that Bangladesh is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Mr. Shamsul Huq Zahid said stronger measures are needed to regulate global social media platforms, such as YouTube and Meta, to combat misinformation and disinformation.
The government might think of implementing some of the recommendations given in the MRC report, he added.
Mr. Nurul Kabir focused on inconsistent attitudes of the political parties towards media freedom, saying the parties in opposition tend to favour press freedom, but they call for restraint once in power.
Mr. Kamal Ahmed underscored the importance of maintaining a clear separation between media ownership and editorial independence, calling for stronger ethical standards.
Prothom Alo Executive Editor Mr. Sajjad Sharif, Kaler Kantho Editor and National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, Inquilab Editor A M M Bahauddin, Dhaka Tribune Editor Riaz Ahmed, and Samakal Editor Shahed Muhammad Ali, among others also spoke at the function.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com