TL;DR:
- – The Bangladesh government has formed an 11-member Media Reform Commission led by senior journalist Kamal Ahmed to enhance media independence and objectivity.
- – Notable members include Professor Gitiara Nasrin, Shamsul Haque Zahid, and representatives from various media sectors including print, broadcast, and academia.
- – The commission must submit its comprehensive reform recommendations to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus within a 90-day timeframe.
- – This media commission is part of a larger initiative announced on October 17 that includes additional reform commissions for health, workers’ rights, and women’s affairs.
The Bangladesh government has established an 11-member Media Reform Commission with veteran journalist Kamal Ahmed appointed as its chairperson. The commission has been tasked with proposing reforms to strengthen media independence, robustness, and objectivity in the country.
The commission includes prominent figures from various media sectors. Professor Gitiara Nasrin from Dhaka University’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department and Shamsul Haque Zahid, Editor of The Financial Express and representative of the Editors’ Council, are among the key members. Other notable appointments include Akhtar Hossain Khan, Secretary of the Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB), and Syed Abdal Ahmed, former General Secretary of the National Press Club.
The commission’s membership reflects diverse media perspectives, with Fahim Ahmed, Executive Officer of Jamuna Television and trustee of the Broadcast Journalist Centre, Jimmy Amir from Media Support Network, and Mostafa Sabuj, The Daily Star’s Bogura district correspondent, bringing regional and broadcast expertise. Titu Dutta Gupta, Deputy Editor of The Business Standard, and student representative Abdullah Al Mamun complete the commission.
The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing announced that the commission will commence its work immediately. With a deadline of 90 days, the body is expected to submit its comprehensive report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. This initiative follows the government’s October 17 announcement to establish four reform commissions focusing on health, mass media, workers’ rights, and women’s affairs.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam expressed confidence in the commission, highlighting the strong professional backgrounds of its members. The government has indicated its commitment to implementing media sector reforms based on the commission’s forthcoming recommendations.
