Govt to allow more pvt TV channels
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad told the House Tuesday the government had a plan to give permission to a number of private television (TV) channels very soon, reports BSS.
The minister said the Ministry of Information was now processing the applications submitted for permission to operate private TV channels.
Replying to questions from lawmakers, he said that the Ministry of Information was also contemplating formation of a national transmission policy for the electronic media.
The minister said that the government had enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act-2009 to ensure free flow of information and keep media away from yellow journalism.
He said the government was upholding freedom of the press as it fully believed in free flow of information.
Replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker M Aslamul Huq, Azad said people's right to get any information was very crucial for establishing the freedom of speech.
In this respect, he said, the government had enacted the RTI to ensure free flow of information through the print and the electronic media.
The minister said the government had taken an initiative for updating the "TV Code of advertising standards and practices" against unethical broadcast including publicity of 'boring' and 'uncreative' advertisements.
The minister said the existing television centre in Chittagong was airing programmes as a full-fledged television station. The government would consider establishing a full-fledged television centre in Khulna, he added.
Replying to a question from Faridunnahar Laily, the minister said Bangladesh Television (BTV) had a cell and a committee to monitor the programmes of the private TV channels.
The minister said the Ministry of Information was now processing the applications submitted for permission to operate private TV channels.
Replying to questions from lawmakers, he said that the Ministry of Information was also contemplating formation of a national transmission policy for the electronic media.
The minister said that the government had enacted the Right to Information (RTI) Act-2009 to ensure free flow of information and keep media away from yellow journalism.
He said the government was upholding freedom of the press as it fully believed in free flow of information.
Replying to a question from treasury bench lawmaker M Aslamul Huq, Azad said people's right to get any information was very crucial for establishing the freedom of speech.
In this respect, he said, the government had enacted the RTI to ensure free flow of information through the print and the electronic media.
The minister said the government had taken an initiative for updating the "TV Code of advertising standards and practices" against unethical broadcast including publicity of 'boring' and 'uncreative' advertisements.
The minister said the existing television centre in Chittagong was airing programmes as a full-fledged television station. The government would consider establishing a full-fledged television centre in Khulna, he added.
Replying to a question from Faridunnahar Laily, the minister said Bangladesh Television (BTV) had a cell and a committee to monitor the programmes of the private TV channels.