Reform in law needed for implementation of RTI Act
December 7, 2009
Director of International Press Institute (IPI) David Dadge yesterday said the legal framework within which the media in Bangladesh operates should be reformed to ensure freedom of press and effective implementation of Right to Information Act.
Political influence on the media still remains in Bangladesh, he said adding both Awami League and BNP should stop all attempts to politicise the media.
He said this while speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club in the city.
David Dadge is leading a three-member IPI delegation to Bangladesh.
Other members of the delegation Anthony Mills, IPI press freedom manager, and Trine Ostlyngen, media consultant of IPI Norway National Committee, and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, IPI Bangladesh Committee president, also spoke.
“During the stay in Bangladesh, we met President Zillur Rahman, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed, Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun, Leader of the Opposition Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said, adding that during the meetings, all Bangladeshi leaders felt that freedom of press should be ensured.
Referring to the killing of 16 journalists since 1998, he said visible efforts are yet to be made for bringing the killers to justice.
Both AL and BNP should express a uniform and joint willingness to transcend political fault lines and solve the cases of murdered journalists for the betterment of the nation.
Referring to arrest and harassment of FM Masud, a staff correspondent of the daily New Age, who was taken away from his residence by the Rab and tortured for several hours, he said such acts lack awareness and sensitivity in dealing with the media.
He also mentioned about the alleged torture by Rab personnel to another journalist, Ahmed Noor, general secretary of Sylhet Press Club, and said two extortion charges were made against him, which are still pending.
In this context, he recommended for providing Rab members with awareness and sensitivity trainings in terms of the media’s role.
He said the rate of killings and attacks on journalists would be reduced if the government could possibly rid the country of bribery and corruption. He said adequate and timely payments of wages of the journalists should be ensured to enable the journalists remain uncompromising against corruption.
He also said the Information Commission should be independent and free from government influence.
Source: thedailystar.net
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