Govt forms Media Reform Commission

The government has formed an 11-member Media Reform Commission with veteran journalist Kamal Ahmed as its chief.

The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification to this end on Sunday (November 17).

Other members of the commission are – Professor Dr Gitiara Nasreen, a teacher of Department of Mass Communication & Journalism at Dhaka University; Shamsul Huq Zahid, Editor of The Financial Express; Akhter Hossain Khan, Secretary of News Papers Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB); a representative of Association of Television Owners; Syed Abdal Ahmed, former secretary of Jatiya Press Club; Fahim Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Jamuna Television and a trustee of Broadcast Journalism Centre; Jimi Amir, journalist and convener of Media Support Network; Mustafa Sabuj, Bogura correspondent of the Daily Star; Titu Dutta Gupta, deputy editor of The Business Standard; and Abdullah Al Mamun, a student.

The commission will start its work soon and after taking opinions from all stakeholders concerned, it will submit its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus within 90 days, the notification said.

The chief and the members of the commission will get status and salary and enjoy benefits to be determined by the government. However, if any one of them wants to work voluntarily, without taking benefits, he or she must take permission from the Chief Adviser.

On October 17, the government announced the formation of four more new reform commissions on health, mass media, workers’ rights, and women’s affairs.