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The government is planning to amend the Press Council Act, 1974, to introduce minimum educational qualifications for journalists and strengthen professional accountability in the media, Information and Broadcasting Minister Andalib Rahman has said.
The minister disclosed the plan in a written reply to an independent MP, Sultana Jesmin, during a question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday (November 12).
He said the proposed amendment aims to transform the Bangladesh Press Council into a stronger, more effective and media-friendly institution.
Under the proposed changes, the Press Council would be empowered to register journalists and maintain an online database of professional journalists, similar to the registration system of the Bar Council.
The initiative is intended to ensure professional standards, recognise genuine journalists and prevent people from falsely identifying themselves as journalists.
The proposed amendment also includes provisions for taking disciplinary action, including financial penalties, against editors, publishers and journalists who violate professional codes of conduct.
Such violations would include publishing false, misleading or harassing reports, as well as content considered contrary to journalistic ethics and public interest.
The Press Council would also be authorised to initiate investigations on its own initiative and issue necessary orders against newspapers, media organisations, editors, publishers and journalists involved in such violations.
The proposed powers would also cover the dissemination of rumours, fake news and hate speech.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yaser Khan Chowdhury said the government was regularly holding discussions with journalist organisations, including the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).
He said the government planned to prepare a database of genuine journalists based on recommendations from these organisations.
However, he added that determining the criteria for identifying professional journalists should primarily be the responsibility of journalist organisations, stressing that the government should not decide who can enter a profession or exercise freedom of expression.
“We believe in freedom of expression. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring the dissemination of objective and accurate information,” he said.
The proposed amendments are expected to bring changes to the existing framework governing journalism and the Press Council’s regulatory powers.
