Dhaka: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has announced that transparency will be ensured in the methods of determining newspaper circulation and Television Rating Points (TRP) to bring discipline and accountability to the newspaper and television sectors. Accurate data will be ensured through modern digital mechanisms by discarding the existing methods, he said while chairing a discussion marking World Press Freedom Day-2026 at the auditorium of the Information Bhaban in the capital today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister emphasized that in the information and communication science, no information is complete without data. He expressed concerns over the current methods for determining newspaper circulation and television TRP, describing them as largely questionable. Swapon stated that, “Through this system, the state, society, and stakeholders remain in a kind of confusion. In this digital age, we will change the mechanism and come up with an acceptable and scientific solution.”
The minister also revealed that the government is planning to form a Media Commission soon as part of overall reforms in the media sector. Highlighting the importance of a free flow of information, he stated, “Freedom of information does not mean indiscriminate dissemination, rather information must be responsible and ‘clean information’.” Swapon also mentioned that facilities will be ensured in line with the wage board and labor law in the newspaper industry. Additionally, initiatives will be taken to resolve professional legal complexities, including defamation cases, institutionally through the Press Council.
During the discussion, Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council Justice A K M Abdul Hakim emphasized the need for registration of professional journalists and creation of a strong database to protect press freedom and improve the standard of journalism. He stressed the importance of ensuring minimum educational qualifications and enlistment of journalists to maintain professional skills and ethics, alongside advocating for a comprehensive law for online news portals.
Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) General Secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury highlighted that credibility is the main asset of the media, asserting that maintaining objectivity and neutrality is the core duty of journalists. He warned that the defeat of the media means the defeat of the people, which in turn affects the state.
Newspaper Owners’ Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) President Matiur Rahman Chowdhury cautioned that obedient journalism harms the media and accountability. Furthermore, Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) General Secretary Abdus Salam pointed out the severe financial risks faced by private television channels, emphasizing the need for policy support and rapid digitalization to save the industry.
The event also featured speeches from Editor’s Council General Secretary Dewan Hanif Mahmud, National Press Club President Poet Hasan Hafiz, and Independent Television Chief News Editor Mostafa Akmal, conducted by PIB Director General Faruk Wasif. BSS Managing Director and Chief Editor Kamal Uddin Mozumder, Principal Information Officer Syed Abdal Ahmed, and Managing Director of the Journalists Welfare Trust Mohammad Abdul Bashir, along with senior journalists, were present. Professor Dr. SM Shamim Reza of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University presented the keynote paper.