Media Reform Commission (MRC) Chief Kamal Ahmed. Photo: Collected

RAJSHAHI, Jan 21, 2025 (BSS) – Media Reform Commission (MRC) Chief Kamal Ahmed today said that main objective of the commission is to build an independent, strong and objective media.

He made the remark while exchanging views with journalists from print and electronic media in Rajshahi division at the conference room of the office of Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi.

Kamal Ahmed said the commission is working to meet the expectations of the people by overcoming the anger and crisis of trust arisen in the media during the regime of fascist Awami League government due to the inability of doing impartial and independent journalism.

Stressing the need of identifying the weaknesses of the media to meet the people’s expectations, he said they are trying to identify the weaknesses by conducting public opinion surveys based on the opinions of the field level journalists, editors and readers.

In addition, he said, they are also trying to figure out the weaknesses of the media hearing the opinion of newspaper owners and others involved with the media industry.

Referring to compliance the code of conduct in doing objective journalism, he said, if the code of conduct and principles are followed, it is possible to do objective and impartial journalism alongside removing other obstacles.

Regarding the issue of disclosing the assets of newspaper or television owners, he said that newspaper owners and editors should publish annual financial statement.

When everyone is being held accountable in all cases, why newspaper owners or editors should be exempted from it, he added. 

Kamal Ahmed said that the commission will work on bringing them under accountability as well.

Agreeing with the issue of providing assistance to the families of journalists who died during the movement while performing their professional duties, he said that the issue of compensation for the dead and injured is an important question.

“We have to take this into consideration,” he said, adding, they should be brought under assistance through the July Foundation. 

He advised the government to be more aware in this regard.

He also said that the issues of withdrawing cases should be considered with priority basis as they have been faced harassment cases, served jail terms and remained unemployed.

Media Reform Commission members Professor Dr Gitiara Nasreen, Shamsul Haque Zahid, Kamrunnesa Hasan, Jimmy Amir, Deputy Information Officer of Rajshahi Regional Information Office Md. Touhiduzzaman, Deputy Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Rajshahi Mohammad Jahangir Alam, editors of various daily and online newspapers, publishers and journalist leaders of various districts, among others, also joined the meeting.