Two bills on media likely in 3rd JS session, says Hasan

The government is likely to place two bills on media in the third session of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), said Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday, reports BSS.

The two bills are Media Employees Act (Conditions of Service) 2018 and Broadcast Act.

"We would not be able to place these two bills in parliament in the session beginning tomorrow (Wednesday). But we hope to place the bills in the next (3rd) session," he said at a meeting with Broadcast Journalists' Association (BJA) leaders at the Secretariat.

The Information Ministry has already finalised the draft of the two laws on protecting media employees and broadcast media and sent those to the Law Ministry for vetting, Hasan said.

"We talked to the Law Ministry over quick vetting of the laws. We hope they will do so. After the vetting, we will place the bills in parliament after the cabinet's approval," the minister said.

"Once the bills are passed in parliament, security of the journalists, including job security, will be protected, he added.