United News of Bangladesh

The Media Reform Commission on Saturday recommended making employee shareholding mandatory for small media outlets. The recommendation was included in the commission’s report, submitted to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. Journalists’ starting salary should be equivalent to first-class govt officers: Commission Highlighting concerns over media centralisation, the report warns against sole ownership and multiple media holdings by a single entity. It references global reforms, including Indonesia’s model, where media organisations operate as public limited companies with journalists and employees granted shares under the Media Act. In developed nations, most major media corporations are publicly listed, ensuring accountability to shareholders. The commission emphasised that media credibility is as crucial as public trust in banks, arguing that media institutions should face similar public listing requirements. It noted the banking sector’s ownership restrictions—capping individual, organisational, or family ownership at 10 per cent and limiting board representation to three family members—contrasting it with the absence of such regulations in the media industry. Recommending reforms, the commission proposed that medium and large media companies issue public shares within a specified timeframe. Ownership for entrepreneur-directors, individuals, organisations, or families should be capped at 25 per cent, while employee shareholding should be mandatory but limited to five per cent to prevent founders from consolidating control through employee ownership. Small media companies should also implement employee shareholding. The report also urged restrictions on cross-ownership, preventing any single entity, group, or individual from controlling multiple media outlets. It cited international examples, such as the US rule barring television station owners from owning newspapers and the UK’s 20 per cent cap on television owners holding shares in local newspapers. India is currently debating a similar bill. The commission recalled a previous notification in Bangladesh that restricted cross-ownership when private television channels were first approved, but former State Minister for Information Prof Abu Sayeed revealed that the Ministry of Information could not locate the notification, indicating policy neglect by successive governments. Govt to act on immediate media reforms: Dr Yunus To prevent further media centralisation, the commission called for an ordinance enforcing cross-ownership restrictions and setting a timeline for restructuring existing media businesses. Proposed approaches include requiring owners of both television and newspaper outlets to retain only one or merging staff from both platforms to form a stronger single entity.

The government will work to implement the journalist-related recommendations proposed by the Media Reform Commission, said Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Saturday. “If journalists had received their salaries and allowances regularly, the need for welfare grants might not have arisen,” he remarked while speaking at a cheque distribution event organised by the Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust in the capital.   Speaking as a special guest, Information Secretary Mahbuba Farjana said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting continues to work for journalists' welfare. The event provided financial aid to the families of deceased journalists and those who are ill or financially insolvent.  "Initiatives will be taken to make journalism journalist-friendly by talking to media owners, editors and other stakeholders," he said. Journalists’ starting salary should be equivalent to first-class govt officers: Commission The adviser also assured necessary measures to expand the scope of the Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust. Emphasising responsible journalism, she urged journalists to combat rumours and misinformation while ensuring the dissemination of objective news that safeguards national interests. Presided over by Bangladesh Journalists’ Welfare Trust Managing Director Muhammad Abdullah, the event was also attended by Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed, Jatiya Press Club General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan, and journalists Muhammad Khairul Bashar, Sajid Arafat and Mir Mushfiq Ahsan. A total of Tk 1 crore 93 lakh 90 thousand in grants were distributed among 374 journalists and their family members. Among them, 11 families of deceased journalists received financial aid, while 192 journalists suffering from critical illnesses were among the recipients.

The Media Reform Commission has recommended that the minimum entry salary for journalists should be set at an amount equivalent to grade 9 like BCS cadres while the journalists should have a minimum graduation as educational qualification. According to the National Pay Scale 2015, the basic salary of grade 9 officers starts at Tk 22,000. Other allowances including house rent are added to this. In total, this salary is more than Tk 35,000. The Commission also recommended that no journalist should be hired - whether on a temporary, permanent, or contractual basis - without an appointment letter, a photo ID, and salary. It also proposed that the probation period should not exceed one year. The Media Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. Senior journalist Kamal Ahmed, who is heading the Media Reform Commission, also had a meeting with the Chief Adviser. Commission members were present. Commission head Kamal Ahmed briefed the reporters in front of Jamuna sharing summary of the report. Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and members of the Media Reform Commission were present. Highlighting the need for journalists’ financial security, the Commission chief said this can be for journalists across the country. Govt to act on immediate media reforms: Dr Yunus However, since the cost of living in Dhaka is high, a 'Dhaka allowance' may be added to the salaries that journalists will receive across the country, he said. “This allowance will be added to the salaries that journalists receive in Dhaka. This allowance will be decided by the government and various parties in the media,” said the Commission chief. Asked about the educational qualifications of journalists, Kamal Ahmed said they talked about the qualifications of editors and publishers, not only journalists - the minimum qualification of journalists should be a graduate. “We hope that the current interim government and the future elected government will implement all these recommendations,” he said. Kamal Ahmed said that they have recommended a law for protection in journalism and they have also drafted a protection ordinance. He said they want to see quality newspapers, TV channels and radios survive through "fair and transparent" competition. Dr Yunus to join BIMSTEC Young Gen Forum as keynote speaker He said the media is seeking accountability from politicians and bureaucrats but the question is there about the accountability of mass media. Kamal Ahmed said it is a big question globally today who are the owners of the media outlets. He said there have been no changes in the media ownership, but newsroom leaders have been changed only in line with those political parties who are likely to be in power in the near future. The Media Reform Commission recommended that no single company, group, individual, family, or entrepreneur should own multiple media outlets. The Commission recommended a bar on cross-ownership (owner of a TV station may not be allowed to own a newspaper) and ownership of multiple outlets of the same nature (same owner of more than one news outlets in the same platform in the same language) to safeguard the commercial viability of the sector, which it terms 'one media, one house'. On November 18, the interim government formed the 11-member Media Reform Commission with an aim to make media independent, stronger and objective.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday said the interim government will take steps to implement the Media Reform Commission's proposals that can be done without delay. “We want to implement the reform proposals that are immediately implementable. For that, I would like the Reform Commission to submit the recommendations quickly that need to be done immediately or can be implemented quickly,” he said. Dr Yunus termed the work of the Media Reform Commission led by senior journalist Kamal Ahmed invaluable. Quick national consensus possible through dialogue: Ali Riaz He suggested working towards making this report available to other people, including students of journalism departments of universities. The Media Reform Commission submitted its report to the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. Senior journalist Kamal Ahmed, who is heading the Media Reform Commission, also had a meeting with the Chief Adviser. Commission members were present. After receiving information from the Commission that Bangladeshi television channels cannot be viewed from abroad because domestic television channels are forced to use a specific satellite, Dr Yunus said the government will take necessary measures so that Bangladeshis living abroad and interested foreigners can watch Bangladesh television channels. Govt expects neutral, responsible role from media: Mahfuj Briefing the reporters in front of State Guest House Jamuna, Commission chief Kamal Ahmed said they want to see quality newspapers, TV channels and radios survive through "fair and transparent" competition. He said the media is seeking accountability from the politicians and the bureaucrats but the question is there about the accountability of mass media. Kamal Ahmed said it is a big question globally today who are the owners of the media outlets. He said there have been no changes in the media ownership, but newsroom leaders have been changed only in line with those political parties who are likely to be in power in the near future. Mirza Abbas questions media’s silence on alleged political-business deals Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was present during the media briefing. On November 18, the interim government formed the 11-member Media Reform Commission with an aim to make media independent, stronger and objective.

Chief of the Media Reform Commission Kamal Ahmed said on Sunday that the commission plans to propose a new media protection law while recommending amendments to 32 existing laws that hinder press freedom.  “We’ve found a list of 32 laws that create obstacles in the way of press freedom. We hope we will recommend amendments to the laws…. we’ve received suggestions for enacting a fresh media protection law. It needs to consider this protection law,” he said while addressing a discussion here in the city. Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) arranged the event titled “Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction on Mass Media Perspective” at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (Cirdap) auditorium. EC cancels deal with BCC for NID data verification service Kamal Ahmed said the self-censorship in the media is a legacy of the past practice, which should be removed. “It is said that self-censorship still works (in the media). This self-censorship is legacy. It has become a habit. It is I who will have to change and remove this habit,” he said. A national media survey will be conducted throughout the country from January 1-7 next, said the reform commission chief. He said the survey will be carried out among 48,000 households to know if people have the trust in media and which media – newspaper, television, radio or social platform-- they trust in. Kamal Ahmed said there is a very limited space for media accountability in Bangladesh. “The press council is a dysfunctional and failed institution, but it should be made an effective one,” he said. Council of Advisers adopts condolence motion for Adviser Hassan Ariff About the media ownership, he said, “We’re trying to analyse the media mafia to know who are in their boards of directors and what sources of their money are, if they are profitable or not.” Noting that anarchy continues in the media landscape as a journalist wears three hats simultaneously – the hat of a journalist, the hat of an advertisement procurer and the hat of a salesman—particularly in outside Dhaka. “But a journalist should not engage in advertisement collection,” he said. The commission chief stressed the need for ensuring financial security for journalists as part of the media reform. “It will have to have financial security for journalists. Otherwise there will be no social dignity and social protection for journalists. So, it will surely be a recommendation (in its reform report) over the financial security of journalists,” he said. CGS Dialogue highlights importance of engaging political parties He said there should be a minimum salary floor for all journalists, ensuring fair compensation not just for those based in Dhaka but for professionals throughout the country. Kamal Ahmed said a unity among journalists is needed to resist interference and influence in the media. There should be unity for all media on one platform, he said.  He said there is a very strong division among journalists. It is very tough to come out of this as there are very acute divisions, particularly political divisions among journalists unions, editors and even media owners.