Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said a taskforce would be formed for the digitalisation of the broadcast media to bring discipline in this sector.
“After the digitalization of this sector, the interest of the country’s media and its employees will be ensured,” he said while exchanging views with the members of Broadcast Journalists Center at the meeting room of his Secretariat office in the capital, reports BSS.
Dr Hasan said the media workers (service and condition) act will be sent to parliament soon. “One or two inter-ministerial meetings will be held before sending the act to the cabinet. After getting nod of the cabinet, the media workers act will be sent to the House,” he added. The minister said the government is taking a little time as the act is sensitive. After scrutinizing all aspects, the act will be passed in parliament, he added.
Dr Hasan said the government has made the broadcast policy and the broadcast act will also be passed soon. After enacting the law, a broadcast commission will be formed in the interest of the media workers.
He said discipline has been established in the electronic media sector following different steps. The government will take actions if there is any irregularity, the minister added. The information minister said broadcasting Bangladeshi advertisements in foreign channels has been stopped.
Referring to the present problems faced by the private TV channels, the minister said, “Let’s work together to save the industry. Besides, the cable operators are maintaining the serial of the Bangladeshi TV channels as per their on air date. After keeping Bangladeshi channels, the cable operators are keeping the foreign channels, he added. He said the mass media rapidly flourished in Bangladesh during the tenure of the Sheikh Hasina-led government. For the first time, she gave approval to private television channels in the country after taking office in 1996, he added. Expressing his hope to work together, Dr Hasan said, “We did work in unison in the past and we will work also in future.”