Bar Council-style journalist registration under consideration: Info minister

The government is preparing amendments to the Press Council Act to strengthen media accountability, introduce journalist registration and empower the Press Council to act against false, misleading and unethical reporting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said.

Replying to a question from NCP MP Md. Abul Hasnat, the minister said the government remains committed to ensuring media freedom, professionalism, accountability and responsible journalism.

He said the government does not support unauthorised, unprofessional or unethical activities carried out in the name of mobile journalism.

To address these issues, the government has proposed amending the Press Council Act, 1974, to transform the Press Council into a stronger, more effective and media-friendly institution.

The proposed amendments include setting minimum educational qualifications for journalists, introducing a journalist registration system similar to that of the Bar Council, imposing financial penalties for publishing false, harassing or unethical reports, and empowering the Press Council to launch suo motu investigations into incidents involving rumours, fake news, hate speech or reports deemed contrary to the national interest.

Responding to a separate question from Jamaat MP elected from Chattogram-16 Mohammad Zahirul Islam, the minister said the Ninth Newspaper Wage Board award had been implemented from the date of publication of its gazette notification.

However, he said the wage board has not been fully implemented due to disagreements between journalists and newspaper owners over income tax liabilities. Several writ petitions relating to the implementation of the Wage Board are currently pending before the High Court, he added.

Replying to a question from reserved-seat member from BNP Selina Sultana, Swapan said the government is reviewing the existing policy on advertisements in electronic media to reflect the changing technological environment, the expansion of digital broadcasting systems, online and OTT platforms, and alignment with international standards.

In response to another question from reserved-seat BNP MP Arifa Sultana, the minister said digital content disseminated through podcasts, blogs and influencer-based platforms is regulated under existing laws, rules and policies.

He said the government is also considering a modern policy framework that balances rapid technological developments, freedom of expression and public interest. Necessary measures will be taken following consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Answering a question from Jashore-6 Jamaat MP Md Moktar Ali, the minister said Bangladesh currently has 3,338 registered newspapers.

Of these, 1,436 are daily newspapers, 1,231 weeklies, 452 monthlies, 215 biweeklies, while the remaining 54 comprise bi-weekly, bi-monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual publications.

In reply to a question from Dhaka-18 MP SM Jahangir Hossain, Swapan said any person aggrieved by news reports that violate journalistic ethics may file a complaint with the Press Council.

If the Council finds the accused guilty following a hearing, it may issue warnings, reprimands or censures against the respondent, he added.