EU delegates meet info minister, law secretary

Visiting delegation of the European Union (EU) Wednesday met Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at his secretariat office here, report agencies.
Three members of the delegation, Riccardo Chelleri, Dimitra Ioannou and Cristina Dos Ramos Alves, met the information minister.
While talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Hasan said no discussions regarding politics were held during the meeting. They wanted to know about the role of the ministry in the country's mass media, he added.
"We've said that the mass media in Bangladesh is mainly private. Bangladesh Television and 35 private TV channels are on air. There are also 1,250 newspapers, hundreds of online news portals, FM and community radios and all are private except Bangladesh Betar," said Dr Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.
He said discussions were held about the responsibilities of social platforms from which rumours are spread, resulting in violence.
Meanwhile another report adds: Law and Justice Division Secretary Md Golam Sarwar on Wednesday said that he told the European Union's visiting Election Exploratory Mission that the existing legal framework of Bangladesh is enough to hold a free and fair election in the country.
In reply, the mission expressed their satisfaction over the matter, he said. Sarwar made the statement while talking to journalists after a meeting with the six-member mission at the secretariat in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Replying to the query whether the Bangladeshi legal framework is enough to hold a free election, he said, "The legal framework that we have is enough for a free and fair election,"
The secretary informed the mission that the Election Commission (EC) is now stronger due to the amendments to the Representation of the People Order (RPO).
"They became satisfied over the matter (EC's capability)," he said, adding that there is no law in the sub-continent like the law enacted recently to appoint Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners in Bangladesh.
About the search commission to form the EC, the secretary said, "They were pleased and we provided them with details on the law."
Secretary Golam Sarwar said the judicial magistrates perform duty under the EC during the election, not under the ministry. Asked whether the mission told them anything about the elections under the partisan government, he said, "No discussion in this regard was held,"
The secretary said the mission made no observation about the preparation to hold the election in a free and fair manner in the country.