Dhaka: Media Reform Commission chief Kamal Ahmed today revealed that media licenses were issued based on the political identity of media owners during the previous regime. “Licenses for televisions and newspapers were not given in open and transparent ways. The licenses of online news portals were also not issued in an open and transparent manner. The licenses were given in collusion and based on political identity (of media owners),” he stated at a press briefing outside the State Guest House Jamuna.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, earlier in the day, the Media Reform Commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the Jamuna. Kamal Ahmed emphasized that public interest was not considered when issuing media licenses, as political identity played a central role in these decisions.
Discussing the media boom in Bangladesh, Ahmed highlighted the influx of black money into the media sector. He remarked, “We know those who become the owners of media but we do not know how they have become media owners.” He further elaborated on the commission’s work, noting that it was formed by the government on November 18, and completed its task within 100 days.
The commission conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders, including journalists and media owners, and gathered insights from approximately 1400 individuals nationwide. Ahmed explained that the current state of media was not an overnight phenomenon, attributing the crisis in press freedom and journalism to prolonged malpractice in the industry.
In response to these issues, the commission reviewed Bangladesh’s journalism history to identify challenges faced by journalists and propose solutions. “We tried to take lessons from the history and follow the international best practices in journalism,” Ahmed noted.
He also commented on the unchanged media ownership landscape despite the political shift following the August 5 events, where the Awami League government was ousted. However, the leadership among journalists saw a transformation.
Ahmed pointed out the lack of accountability among media owners and the undisclosed sources of their investments in media. To address these, the commission recommended the government enact laws to ensure journalists’ safety and suggested the establishment of a permanent media reform commission.
Among its 20 recommendations, the commission proposed that entry-level journalists receive salaries and allowances equivalent to that of a nine-grade BCS officer. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and commission members were present at the briefing.