No govt can afford to restrict media freedom: TIB

Terming the National Broadcast Policy-2014 ‘eventually a unilateral exercise’ , the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said unilateral imposition of policies and actions to control the media can only be counterproductive.
“….what could be a good example of government's engagement with stakeholders has turned into little more than eyewash and eventually a unilateral exercise,” TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman told UNB in an interview.
The TIB chief, who was at the forefront of civil society leaders invited to participate in the process behind formulating the policy, said no government can afford to restrict media freedom, not to speak of doing away with it (media freedom).
“The only type of regime that finds it convenient to go that way is military or military-backed or other types of authoritarian government,” he said.
Iftekharuzzaman observed that the government will serve its own cause if it holds a series of genuine consultations with stakeholders to review the Broadcast Policy and be guided by positive and constructive ideas and recommendations before it takes any decision or action affecting the media and broadcast sector.