Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon today said a time-befitting media policy and a media commission will be formed by July-August next to ensure the interests of all parties - journalists, owners and newspaper employees.

Besides, he said, the media commission will work to bring the issues of creating anarchy through unethical journalism under the legal framework.

The information and broadcasting minister made the remarks at a weekly press briefing held at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID) at the Secretariat here this morning.

Prime Minister's Information and Broadcasting Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the ministry Md Yasin and Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed were present.

About the wage board for journalists and media management, Swapon said both protecting the interests of journalists and patronising the owners of the media institutions are the responsibility of the government.

“We are working to create a specific and organised legal framework to resolve disputes between journalists and the owners. A policy and a commission acceptable to all will be formed by July-August so that the interests of all parties are guaranteed,” he said.

The minister said the issues of false cases filed against journalists and unethical journalism were discussed in the meeting with the Editors' Council.

Since there is no specific provision in the existing law to identify such activities as a crime, aggrieved people are often using different laws, he said.
 
Swapon said it will be possible to remove this legal limitation after the formation of the proposed media commission.

Referring to the decision of the Cabinet, he said the government has taken a policy decision to give maximum encouragement to the import of environment-friendly electric buses in the country. 

In particular, arrangements are being made so that educational institutions can bring these buses with duty-free facilities, he said. 

“If a bus is introduced in an educational institution, the guardians of 50 students will not have to use their separate cars, which will ease traffic congestion and pollution,” he said.

The minister said the implementation work of creating a specific definition and policy on how many seat-capacity buses can be brought duty-free for public transport has already begun.

Replying to a question, Swapon said: "Have we been able to bring the crimes of those who used the media in favour of genocide or Pakistan in the great Liberation War of 1971 under the media law so far? We have not been able to do so. 

But, does that mean it is not a crime? With the cooperation of all, all these crimes will be brought under the legal framework by forming a commission."