Dhaka: Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md. Mahfuj Alam announced today that the government is set to increase facilities for newspapers and private television channels, urging media owners to correspondingly enhance the benefits for journalists. He made these remarks during the 'Meet the Reporters' program organized by the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) at its Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mahfuj Alam emphasized the necessity of increasing journalists' salaries, revealing that the government is considering setting a minimum salary for entry-level journalists. He warned that media outlets unable to provide the minimum wage would not qualify for government benefits.
Additionally, Mahfuj Alam disclosed plans to digitize the private television broadcast system, which would facilitate the assessment of viewership numbers for the channels. He noted that channels performing well would attract more advertisements and, consequently, higher revenue.
Regarding the licensing of new television channels, the adviser stated that the government has issued licenses in accordance with existing policies to foster healthy competition within the media industry.
Highlighting the ongoing progress in implementing the Media Reform Commission's recommendations, Mahfuj Alam informed that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has prioritized 13 out of 23 recommendations for implementation after a thorough review. He further mentioned that new policies and ordinances might be required for executing these recommendations, while some issues rely on decisions from the council of advisers.